Does Justin Fields experiment show Steelers shouldn't draft Jalen Milroe?

Long before it was reported that Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe had accepted an invitation to attend the 2025 NFL Draft, some suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers could make Milroe the 21st overall pick of the upcoming player-selection process. 

Scouts have routinely compared Milroe to current New York Jets starter Justin Fields. For a piece published Wednesday, ESPN's Ben Solak either intentionally or unintentionally hinted that how Pittsburgh handled Fields throughout his time with the organization could show Milroe isn't a great fit for the franchise. 

"Pittsburgh showed little interest in building an offense around Fields, as it only marginally included designed QB runs," Solak wrote. "Any team drafting Milroe -- who ran a 4.4 at his pro day -- needs to major in such a scheme. That's how Milroe can keep an offense on track while his passing traits catch up."

The Steelers originally acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears in March 2024, and it was widely believed that Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin preferred to start Russell Wilson over Fields before Wilson was sidelined with a lingering calf problem ahead of Week 1. Tomlin then turned to a recovered Wilson in Week 7 after Fields went 4-2 as a starter. 

Over those six games, Fields tallied just 55 total rushing attempts. 

It's now thought that some Steelers coaches, such as offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, wanted to stick with Fields and/or go back to the 26-year-old as the club endured what became a five-game losing streak that ran from Week 15 through Pittsburgh's wild-card playoff defeat at the Baltimore Ravens. Perhaps Smith would welcome the opportunity to develop a project such as Milroe assuming the Steelers soon sign future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to serve as their temporary QB1. 

"I'm not convinced the Steelers are the best schematic fit for Milroe, but in the construct of quarterback development, we tend to overweigh the scheme and underweigh the rest of the offensive roster," Solak added. "The Steelers have two good receivers in DK Metcalf and George Pickens, as well as a young and ascending offensive line. If the running game doesn't take a step back without Najee Harris, Milroe would have the necessary infrastructure to develop whenever the reps come in Pittsburgh."

Solak thinks the Steelers could get Milroe at overall pick No. 83, but others have recently predicted either the Cleveland Browns or the New York Giants could grab the exciting prospect early in the second round. It remains to be seen if Pittsburgh would "reach" for Milroe with the 21st choice if Miami's Cam Ward, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart are all off the board at that time.