During his three years with the Crimson Tide, McKinstry finished with 42 games played, 93 tackles, 5 for a loss, 2 interceptions, and 23 passes defended. He occasionally made a contribution as a punt returner as well. It’s possible, though, that the team sees cornerbacks as less urgent needs than offensive tackle or center, where they are particularly thin, given that the Steelers acquired Donte Jackson, a former Carolina Panthers cornerback, this offseason and that Darius Rush and Cory Trice are expected to return for their second NFL seasons.
Fields’ rookie contract is about to expire, and the Steelers have the option to pick up his $25 million fifth-year pact. Fields won’t be entering the last year of his deal, though, as the organization isn’t willing to completely commit to him just yet given the uncertainty surrounding him and Pittsburgh’s quarterback problem as a whole. As a result, they are expected to refuse that option.
According to league sources, the Steelers do not plan to exercise quarterback Justin Fields’ $25 million fifth-year option. Fields was acquired by the team last month in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Russell Wilson and Brandon Fields will soon be in the final year of their contracts. tweet.com/qJWY1djtI7
Although Fields has shown early in his career promise, he has battled consistency issues and playing for the awful Chicago Bears club. Fields performed admirably in 13 games last season (227/370, 2562 YDS, 16 TD, 9 INT, 124 CAR, 657 YDS, 4 TD), but the Bears chose to part ways with Fields and trade him to the Steelers in exchange for the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a strong chance to select Caleb Williams, one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory.
Although Fields is a quarterback in the NFL who can start, Wilson’s current placement ahead of him has caused some misunderstanding over Fields’ status on the team. He might have to wait a while to get his chance with the Steelers, but he might wind up being the team’s quarterback of the future.
It would be absurd to pay Fields $25 million for the 2025 campaign when he might not even report for duty in 2024, so Pittsburgh’s front office declining this option is not shocking in the slightest. The two parties may meet again and work out an extension at a later date, but Fields isn’t going to sign an extension at this time, not with his value at an all-time low.
Fields’ future will be largely determined by Wilson’s performance at center, presuming Wilson is selected to start the team’s first game. Wilson had a difficult two years with the Denver Broncos, and as he approaches his 36th season, it seems unlikely that he will play for the Steelers in the long run.
Declining Fields’ option won’t help to clarify the situation in Pittsburgh’s quarterback room, which is currently very hazy. The Steelers are attempting to keep their choices at the position open for the time being, but if Fields is able to go free the next offseason and find a better situation for himself, this move may result in his only playing for the team for one season.
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