Steelers losing out on the Justin Fields sweepstakes is already projected to net them more than they gave up to get him
Justin Fields was unable to receive the demands he wanted from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and so he joined the New York Jets. The Steelers' first choice, losing out on Fields has the team in the running for one of two names. But just because the Steelers didn't get their guy, doesn't mean it can't work […]
Justin Fields was unable to receive the demands he wanted from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and so he joined the New York Jets.
The Steelers' first choice, losing out on Fields has the team in the running for one of two names.
But just because the Steelers didn't get their guy, doesn't mean it can't work out in their favor…
Steelers projected to receive 2026 compensatory pick for Justin Fields' departure
It’s too early in the free agency process to know for sure which teams will get which compensatory picks next year — that’s determined by a complex formula that the NFL will apply at the end of the 2025 season. But longtime compensatory pick analyst Nick Korte predicts that the Steelers will get either a third-round pick or a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft, depending on whether Fields plays most of the Jets’ offensive snaps in the 2025 season.
– Mike Florio, PFT
Now if you remember back to last year, the Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears for a conditional pick in April's draft. Essentially, if Fields played 50% or more of the team's offensive snaps, Pittsburgh would send Chicago a fourth-round pick.
Instead, Russell Wilson supplanted Fields in Week 7 and started the rest of the season, meaning the Steelers only parted ways with a 6th round pick in this year's draft.
So essentially, the Steelers received more than they paid for, despite watching Fields walk to New York. Oh and if Fields starts the majority of the season for the Jets, (which his contract indicates) the Steelers will receive a third-round pick as opposed to a fourth.
That means the Steelers could be armed with three 3rd rounders in next year's draft given their own, the projected comp pick for Dan Moore Jr.'s departure, and if Fields starts most of the 2025 season.
For a team with the draft history of the Steelers and a newfound willingness to part ways with those picks for elite, and proven NFL assets, that's not chump change.
So in the end, the Steelers will have a lot of options despite seeing multiple starters leave their team on Monday. The more draft capital a team has, the more flexible they are.
And in the NFL, it's always good to be able to bend.
