When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson to a veteran minimum contract during the 2025 offseason, they had no idea that Justin Fields would be available at the cost of a mere sixth-round pick. General manager Omar Khan quickly pulled the trigger, and though the Fields experiment didn't work as planned, it still managed to pay dividends when it came to the compensatory formula.
After Mike Tomlin gave up on Fields entering Week 7 of the 2024 season, the once-promising quarterback opted for a fresh start with the New York Jets in free agency. Fields had an expiring contract, and rookie head coach Aaron Glenn expressed faith in him as a starting quarterback.
Though Pittsburgh botched an opportunity with Fields, they still managed to get rewarded for their failed trade.
Over the Cap projects the compensatory picks each team will receive in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to receive quite the haul. For letting Fields walk in free agency, Pittsburgh is expected to pick up a compensatory fourth-round pick.
Not bad for a quarterback who started six games for the Steelers and was benched in the first half of the season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were rewarded for all the wrong reasons in the Justin Fields trade fiasco
Nobody can fault the Pittsburgh Steelers for trading a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields. The former No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft showcased remarkable arm talent and rushing ability and would be just 25 years old for the 2024 season.
But what we can blame the Steelers for is their gross mishandling of the whole Justin Fields situation. With the starting job promised to Russell Wilson behind closed doors, Mike Tomlin didn't want to go back on his word. Things were working just fine with Fields early in the season, as the toolsy quarterback recorded 10 total touchdowns and just one interception while leading Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record before being benched.
That's when Tomlin pulled the plug and never looked back. Even with Wilson's abysmal performances down the stretch, Fields never got another look as a starter for the Steelers, and he opted for greener pastures in free agency this offseason.
While I certainly won't complain about the Steelers being handed a fourth-round compensatory pick for Fields' departure, Pittsburgh almost doesn't deserve a penny for the way they handled the situation during the season.
Thankfully, their recent mistakes still result in a net positive for the team. Justin Fields wasn't the only departing player raking in added draft capital for Pittsburgh. The front office is set to receive comp picks for exiting players like Dan Moore Jr., Russell Wilson, and James Daniels as well.
The fourth-round comp pick received from Justin Fields will be one more asset the Pittsburgh Steelers will have entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Somehow, they butchered the Fields situation and still got rewarded. It's a wild league.