On the latest episode of the “Clean Pocket” podcast, former NFL head coach Jay Gruden expressed a compelling opinion on why the Pittsburgh Steelers should start Justin Fields over veteran quarterback Russell Wilson.
“I’m going with Justin Fields without hesitation,” Gruden said, according to Jeremy Pike of Steelers Depot. “I don’t think they anticipated he would be available, and they acquired him at a bargain. Russell has had his moment in the spotlight, with a Super Bowl appearance. His prime is behind him. Now, you have a younger quarterback who can throw as well, if not better, and is a superior athlete at 25 years old.”
Before Wilson signed a team-friendly contract with the Steelers, many in the NFL community believed he was past his prime. Meanwhile, there was speculation that the Chicago Bears could secure a third- or even second-round draft pick for Fields. Ultimately, Pittsburgh traded a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick for the 2021 first-rounder.
Outsiders may never know for certain if the Steelers would have signed Russell Wilson had they known on March 1 that Justin Fields could be acquired so cheaply. Over the past few months, some have speculated that Fields might be a better fit for the offense being implemented by new Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and Jay Gruden seemed to agree.
“If the plan is to run the ball, throw just 14 times a game, utilize bootlegs, zone reads, and quarterback-designed runs, it’s not even close,” Gruden said, advocating for Fields to start over Wilson.
Longtime NFL insider Jason La Canfora remains skeptical that the Steelers have definitively placed Wilson atop their depth chart, despite what team insiders have indicated. Smith stated as recently as this week that Wilson and Fields will compete for the QB1 position throughout the summer, but whether this competition will truly unfold remains to be seen.
