The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t just inheriting Justin Fields via their Saturday trade with the Chicago Bears.
By adding the former first-round quarterback pick, the Steelers are also taking on Fields’ contract. Here’s a breakdown.
Justin Fields Contract: Examining What He’ll Make With Steelers
Fields comes over to the Steel City in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft selection for 2025. However, multiple reports revealed that if Fields manages to play approximately 50% of the QB snaps in Pittsburgh, then the selection the Bears receive becomes a fourth-round addition.
Long story short, the Bears are luring in a future Day 3 pick. But on the Steelers’ end, what kind of financial impact will they have by adding Fields?
This deal does indeed come with salary ramifications on Pittsburgh’s side. Here’s a look back at what Fields was earning in the Windy City:
- After going No. 11 overall in a class that featured Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones, Fields was handed a four-year deal worth more than $18.8 million.
- For 2024, Fields was set to earn a base salary of more than $1.6 million per Spotrac.
- Fields, though, has a roster bonus with the same above dollar figure. He’s also carrying a cap hit of beyond $3.2 million.
- Finally, Fields had a fifth-year option from the Bears before the trade. Since there was no meeting to discuss that plan between him and the Bears, that fifth-year number is set at a whopping $25.664 million.
- Regarding the latter, the Steelers can attempt to make a decision with Fields. However, Pittsburgh must make a decision by May.
How Can Steelers Make Fields’ Deal Work?
Perhaps Fields’ new head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and the front office can offer a one-year extension to Fields to avoid the $25.664 million number.
The downside there is that they would likely need to act on this move now, which could get made without seeing how Fields can perform in a Steelers uniform. But it still prevents Fields’ high money increase.
Going the extension route gives the Steelers a chance to work with something cheaper. Pittsburgh may need to trek this way anyway due to what Russell Wilson agreed to.
The nine-time Pro Bowl selection, whose Steelers signing became official Wednesday, chose to accept a one-year deal following his release from the Denver Broncos.
The Super Bowl 48 winner could still re-enter the free agent market in 2025 unless he recaptures his Pro Bowl form from his Seattle Seahawks days, which would persuade the Steelers to keep him longer.
But to play things safe in the name of QB depth, Pittsburgh could help guarantee that Fields can stick around for one more year without needing to take on his fifth-year rookie option.
As of Saturday, he and Wilson are the only active QBs on the Steelers roster. And already, the Steelers’ 2025 depth chart at QB is a question mark.
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The Steelers currently have more than $11.1 million left in 2024 cap space. They still have their future rookie class to sign after April.
Pittsburgh may have to turn to restructuring various deals to ensure Fields has an easier financial transition. But along with adding Fields, the Steelers inherited his Chicago riches.
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