Sky is the limit for Fields but navigating his flight path is tricky
by Bo Marchionte
Published March 17, 2024, 11:42 AM
Youngstown, OH – In the cinematic classic The Godfather II, Michael Corleone’s character portrayed by Al Pacino delivers my favorite line of all the movies. Sitting in the comfort of his Lake Tahoe home in a leather chair with a cigarette resting in his hand on right after being insulted and belittled by Senator Pat Geary (G.D. Spradlin), he replies.
“Senator, you can have my answer right now if you like,” a stone-cold faced Corleone replies. “My offer is this. Nothing.”
It’s how I envision the conversation between Steelers general manager Omar Khan had with Bears Ryan Poles who holds the same title in Chicago, when acquiring Justin Fields for a 2025 sixth-round pick (can become a four). In truth the Steelers did give up something while the rest of the league offered nothing.
Fields is a player that moves the needle.
He possesses a tantalizing skill set which keeps everyone keen to his whereabouts. In actuality he blows the thermostat to smithereens. He conjures up an excitement that very few players can despite not exactly ever proving to master the position of quarterback in the National Football League.
In early August of last year, he was ahead of Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes from the betting public on winning league MVP. He was coming off a 3-12 record as the starter in Chicago and a combined 5-20 in his first two seasons with the Bears. Before the season began, he had 10% of the money, with only Philadelpha Eagles Jalen Hurts ahead at 16% at DraftKings for league MVP.
That’s the power Fields has over the public on how they perceive him to be the next great quarterback, but the NFL has spoken. When the Bears failed to get a number one, or two or even third round pick for him, those decision makers in the National Football League watched the tape and proved wholeheartedly they view Fields in a much different light.
Despite being given away for a sixth-round pick in 2025, Fields’ trade to Pittsburgh sent another feverish impulse to those who feel the best is yet to come. Living in northeast Ohio I saw first-hand the magnitude of him arriving in western Pennsylvania to hopefully resurrect his career.
A large contingency of Ohio State fans remain loyal to the former Buckeye and hope he succeeds since he chose to wear the scarlet and gray in college. A logical reaction to one of the most powerful fan bases in college sports.
At the professional level, Steelers Nation is vibrant on the northeast side of the state in Ohio. Their expectations are the Bears will be getting a fourth-round pick in 2025 because he’ll play in at least 51% of the Steelers’ snaps at quarterback.
On the surface, Khan did get a wonderful prospect for nothing. The addition of Fields stems from the Pittsburgh quarterback situation since the onslaught of free agency has been a whirlwind keeping everyone’s head on a swivel as Khan made one bold move after the next.
His first move was signing free agent Russell Wilson. His encore was trading former first rounder in 2022 Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, but his third solo act brought the house down when he traded for Fields.
Khan had one quarterback on his roster after trading Pickett to the Eagles hours after newly signed Russell Wilson held his first press conference for Pittsburgh media. It set in motion a roster consisting of just one quarterback leaving Fields squarely in the sights of Khan. This is the part of the trade I adore for Pittsburgh.
Khan did obtain a back-up with potential if developed under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but the expectations that he is going to supplant Russell Wilson and ride off into the sunset of MVP’s and Vince Lombardi Trophies might be best if tamed.
This whole scenario reminds me of the 2022 NFL Draft when Pittsburgh drafted Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick. The entire quarterback class entering the draft that year was under great scrutiny. It marked only the second time in the last two decades the first-round ended with just one quarterback selected.
The next quarterback off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft was Desmond Ridder, going 54 picks after Pickett in the third round to the Atlanta Falcons. Both Pickett and Ridder have been traded since the start of free agency this spring.
Pittsburgh felt the ‘Golden Goose’ laid the magical egg at the 20th overall selection. Every team in the NFL had the opportunity to jump Pittsburgh at 20 but none of the 31 teams in the National Football League felt it necessary. The entire second-round went quarterback less until Ridder was chosen.
This is where the similarities conjure up in my mind that the Steelers in both Pickett and Fields got two quarterbacks that weren’t necessarily desired by 31 NFL teams. However, in the moment it was like the Steelers Nation felt the team robbed the bank and got away with the biggest heist of the century.
Can Fields ever go from elite athlete to quarterback?
Time will only tell. Until then, can everyone please curb your enthusiasm.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
