Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Kirby Leei-USA TODAY Sports

Insider: 'Mike Tomlin's a big fan' of this quarterback

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 2/13/24

Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that the Steelers will bring in competition for QB Kenny Pickett this offseason. Who that will be is still up for debate, but ESPN insider Adam Schefter believes he could have his eyes on one quarterback.

"Pittsburgh's gonna go out and get some type of quarterback whether that's Ryan Tannehill, whether that's Russell Wilson, whether that's Justin Fields," Schefter said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "Mike Tomlin's a big fan of Justin Fields. We'll keep that in mind during the offseason and the coming weeks."

"Pittsburgh is gonna go out and get another Quarterback..

Keep in mind that Mike Tomlin is a big fan of Justin Fields" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/DwBl0w2tWi
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 12, 2024

Fields is still under contract with the Bears through the 2024 season. However, Chicago is likely to move on from him since it owns the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and it will reportedly take a "historic haul" to trade for it.

If the Bears do opt to draft a quarterback with the first pick and move on from Fields, the Steelers should run to the phone.

The No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has thrown for 4,656 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 1,773 yards and 12 touchdowns from 2022-23. His 10-28 record as a starter is unimpressive, but that would likely improve under Tomlin, who's never had a losing season.

What it would take to acquire Fields is also still unknown, but if Pittsburgh were able to get him for a day two pick, that would certainly feel like a win.

QB Kenny Pickett has thrown just 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 games. Fields would give him the hardest competition he's ever had and could very well steal the starting job by Week 1.

Fields potentially joining the Steelers is completely based on what Chicago plans to do. But either way, Schefter expects Pittsburgh's quarterback room to look different in 2024.

"There will be a decision that that organization has to make in terms of the quarterback that they want to bring in. But they're not just going to leave it as Kenny Pickett," Schefter added. "So now, it's which of these quarterbacks do they make a move for?"

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