Justin Fields to serve as Steelers backup, draft implications for Bears

The Pittsburgh Steelers have named Russell Wilson their starting quarterback. Wilson, who signed with Pittsburgh this offseason, was battling former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields for the starting job. Wilson was the presumed starter since his arrival, and that's exactly how it panned out.

In fact, the Steelers' decision to name Wilson the starter could have draft implications for the Bears next year.

Chicago traded Fields to Pittsburgh for a conditional sixth-round pick, which becomes a fourth rounder if Fields plays 51 percent of snaps in 2024. Right now, he's not on track for that given Wilson has been named starter. But a lot can change throughout the course of an NFL season, so it's something that bears monitoring throughout the 2024 campaign.

Meanwhile, the Bears have started a new chapter with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who was selected with the first overall pick. Williams is tasked with rewriting what's been a tortured quarterback history. But, in the short time he's seen the field between practice and preseason, it certainly looks like he can be the part.

It also helps that general manager Ryan Poles made this a welcoming situation for a young quarterback like Williams, which includes an arsenal of weapons in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, as well as a potential top-10 defense.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Justin Fields to serve as Steelers backup, Bears' draft implications