Steelers Now
Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers have less than a month to figure something out before the quarterback hits the open market. With the price of what it would take to franchise tag Fields, the Steelers would likely prefer to iron out a deal instead.
Former Steelers defensive back Bryant McFadden believes that would be the most prudent way to approach Fields staying in Pittsburgh.
“You’ve gotta find a way to negotiate, most importantly, because the tag for a quarterback is around, I think, $40 million,” McFadden said. “I think you can get Justin Fields, if you were to extend him, at a lesser rate. The tag would be the last-case scenario, in my opinion.”
According to OverTheCap, the franchise tag for the quarterback position is projected to be set at $41,325,000 this offseason. No signal-caller was tagged during last year’s window. Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins, then-Kansas City cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, and New England safety Kyle Dugger received such a deal, among others.
There are most likely other franchises that would be interested if Justin Fields becomes a free agent, t. He went 4-2 as the Steelers’ starter this past season and was safe with the football before being yanked in favor of veteran Russell Wilson. Fields didn’t push back with being asked to take a backseat, however, a level of maturity that those around the NFL recognized.
“I think he’s intriguing,” CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco said. “He’s only 26. The age is right. He’s also flashed last year at times when he played for the Steelers. I thought he did some really good things. When they put him in packages later in the season, he did some really good things. He never complained. He could’ve complained. He could’ve moaned and groaned about putting the old man in instead of letting him play quarterback, but he didn’t.”
