We've reached the time of year when Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and the Pittsburgh Steelers brass make their rounds on the pre-draft scouting trail. One expected stop was at Alabama's Pro Day—a landing destination for Tomlin and his staff nearly every year. Though the Crimson Tide aren't littered with high-end NFL Draft prospects this year, quarterback Jalen Milroe caught the eye of the Steelers.
On Tuesday, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that Milroe had a dinner meeting ahead of his Alabama Pro Day in Tuscaloosa with the Steelers. This meeting included Tomlin, Khan, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth.
Those who have followed the team closely over the years during the offseason know what this could mean.
Getting the coveted dinner meeting from the Pittsburgh Steelers is a telltale sign that they are interested in drafting a player. Now Milroe is the latest to join the list. Though nobody is denying the Steelers have a quarterback dilemma and need to find a franchise QB, the overwhelming interest in Milroe is odd... especially considering the way things ended with Justin Fields.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' interest in Jalen Milroe makes no sense when Mike Tomlin could have played Justin Fields in 2024
You might be aware of a popular clip from Family Guy. Peter Griffin, the main character, is given an opportunity to win a brand new boat or pick an unknown prize inside a mystery box. "A boat's a boat, but a box could be anything! It could even be a boat!"
Well, that's about how it feels thinking about potentially swapping Justin Fields for Jalen Milroe.
Both quarterbacks were dual threats in college with outstanding rushing ability. But Fields was undeniably a better prospect in every way. Even considering his struggles with accuracy and consistency throwing the football, he's lightyears beyond where Milroe is entering the league.
What's infuriating is that the Steelers already had this player on their roster and decided that wasn't the quarterback they wanted. Fields simply executed Tomlin's game plan early in the season, which was to take care of the football and minimize risk. He proceeded to chip in 10 total touchdowns with just one interception while using his legs to move the chains and keep the clock rolling. All of this led to a 4-2 record for Pittsburgh entering Week 7.
That's when Tomlin pulled the plug on Fields and never looked back—even as Russell Wilson crumbled over the final five games (including the playoff loss to Baltimore).
So my question for the Steelers is why?
Why would Tomlin and the organization burn bridges with Justin Fields—a 25-year-old quarterback and former 11th overall pick in his first season in Pittsburgh—only to consider drafting the lesser version of Fields just months later?
Perhaps this was just an innocent dinner meeting with Jalen Milroe because Pittsburgh's brass was simply in the area for Alabama's Pro Day. Maybe the Steelers wanted to do their homework in case Milroe hits the free-agent market somewhere down the line in the NFL.
But if we find out Mike Tomlin willingly and intentionally gave up on Justin Fields only to turn around and attempt to make Jalen Milroe their franchise quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers fans are going to lose a ton of respect for the organization by making such a baffling, franchise-altering decision.