The 2024 National Football League trade deadline now is behind us.
The Pittsburgh Steelers clearly were busy and landed receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets and Preston Smith in a separate trade with the Green Bay Packers. Pittsburgh clearly is going all in on the 2024 season and is in first place in the AFC North with a 6-2 record.
There’s a lot to like about this Steelers team. Now that the trade deadline is behind us, though, speculation already has started to build about free agency after the season. It’s certainly too early, but Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put together a list of the top players heading toward free agency and had Steelers quarterback Justin Fields at No. 10 with the Cleveland Browns as a fit.
“Steelers quarterback Justin Fields will be one of the most interesting players to track between now and the start of free agency. The 2021 first-round pick only showed glimpses of his potential in Chicago but likely raised his value significantly as a six-game starter in Pittsburgh this season…
“If a team isn’t sold on prospects like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, it may be eager to take a flier on Fields instead. That’s assuming, of course, that the Steelers don’t already view Fields as their QB of the future. Teams seeking a new long-term quarterback plan—possibly on a budget—like the Browns and Jets may target Fields early in free agency. Potential Suitors: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets.”
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It’s far too early to make a prediction like this. There’s always a chance that the Steelers could keep Fields around for the long haul.
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