The time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to pick up the fifth-year option for quarterback Justin Fields is getting closer.
They only have a couple of weeks to make the decision but general manager Omar Khan is in no rush to do it.
“Yeah, we have ‘till May,” Khan said on Monday, via ProFootballTalk. “I’ve said this before we have until May 2nd to make that decision. So, we’ll focus on the draft this week, and I’m sure we’ll have some serious conversations about that next month.”
If the Steelers were to pick up the option, Fields would make over $25 million in 2025. It seems unlikely that they’d pick it up since he hasn’t even played a snap yet but crazier things have happened.
The Steelers can also still sign Fields to a new contract (and probably for cheaper than $25 million) even if they don’t pick up his option.
Fields will start the season as Russell Wilson’s backup but that could change if the latter struggles. Fields started for the Bears over the last three seasons and completed 60.3% of his passes for 6,674 yards through the air, 40 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions.