Justin Fields (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Justin Fields will be a free agent.

A recent report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggests the Pittsburgh Steelers will decline the fifth-year option for Justin Fields.

In 2025, he will become a free agent and play alongside Russell Wilson for a single season after his turbulent tenure in Chicago. According to Over The Cap, the team would have had to pay $25.664 million for the former No. 11 pick’s fifth-year option.

Considering the little money at stake, the decision was obvious, even if the Steelers decide not to sign Justin Fields to a long-term contract. Pittsburgh traded a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, which can be converted to a fourth-round pick if he plays more than 51% of offensive snaps this season.

So even if Fields walks in a year, the Steelers didn’t give up many resources for a one-year rental.

As the 2024 season gets closer, Fields is currently set to be the backup to Russell Wilson, but it is entirely possible that he could see himself in the starting lineup, and he might thrive in the role.

With the Bears, Justin Fields completed 60.3% of his passes for 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions across his 38 starts and 40 career games for the Bears over the past three seasons. He was also a dual threat who rushed for 2,220 yards and 14 more scores, finishing with the second most single-season rushing yards by an NFL quarterback in 2022, according to ESPN.com.

With Patience, Justin Fields Could End Up Being The Starter in Pittsburgh, & He Could Set Himself Up For A Huge Deal

Justin Fields (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

In Pittsburgh, Fields will join forces with nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson, and although the veteran QB has the upper hand on him right now, it does not mean it will stay that way all year.

Justin Fields is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but if he can beat out Wilson, he could get a team to spend big to sign him next offseason.