Could a conditional 4th-round pick be the reason for Fields' benching?

General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin have often proven to the NFL that while every other team is playing checkers, they are playing chess. This was evident in trades like Chase Claypool, Antonio Brown to the Raiders, their strong 2024 draft class, and how they reshaped their QB room with amazing talent. One phrase that is commonly referenced when describing the Steelers’ philosophy is that Pittsburgh doesn’t rebuild—it reloads. With this in mind, it appears Justin Fields may have been benched to maintain future draft capital.

The Chicago Bears traded their talented QB to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick shortly after Russell Wilson signed a one-year deal with the team.

The key focus here would be on the ‘conditional’ aspect of the trade. If Fields plays more than 51% of the team’s total snaps, the draft pick would improve from a sixth to a fourth-round selection. While Fields’ talent is undeniable, if the team can lean on the more consistent veteran in Wilson and underpay the Bears on the future of Pittsburgh’s franchise, Khan will make that move 10 out of 10 times.