Reporter discusses why Steelers could pick Justin Fields over Russell Wilson this offseason

Recent rumblings have suggested that enough people within the Pittsburgh Steelers prefer to re-sign backup quarterback Justin Fields over starter Russell Wilson and that Fields could enter springtime workouts as the club's unofficial QB1. 

During a recent appearance on ESPN Radio, ESPN Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor discussed why individuals such as Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith are allegedly high on Fields even though the 25-year-old lost the starting job to Wilson in Week 7 of this past season. 

"I think they really like his mobility," Pryor said about the Steelers' thoughts on Fields, as shared by Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. "He has arm strength. He has good arm talent. His decision-making looked like it got better. But let's be honest. He was playing risk-averse football because he knew Russell Wilson was right there, could come back any moment." 

Pittsburgh went 4-2 with Fields in the lineup as Wilson spent the campaign's first six weeks recovering from a lingering calf issue. Over those contests, Fields completed 106-of-160 pass attempts (66.25 percent) for 1,106 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 231 yards and five scores as the Steelers starter. 

However, it was routinely mentioned up until Wilson was ready to resume playing that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin did not want Fields "throwing in the middle of the field" or using audibles at the line of scrimmage. The perception existed that Wilson would get more out of Pittsburgh's passing attack, which he largely did until the club's five-game losing streak began in Week 15 and lasted through the wild-card round of the playoffs. 

"I'm very interested to see what Justin Fields would look like if he isn't playing so risk-averse," Pryor continued. "I think there's a happy medium between all-out, go-for-the-home-run-ball-every-time and playing not to turn the ball over. I think that the Steelers think they can unlock that." 

For such a scenario to play out, Pittsburgh will have to either prevent Fields from reaching free agency when the new league year opens on March 12 or convince him that staying put for at least one more season is the right move for his career. Fields may welcome the chance to continue working with Smith, but the signal-caller could also have a chip on his shoulder after Tomlin favored Wilson for the bulk of the 2024 season.