Who Should I Start? Matthew Stafford or Justin Fields

Friday, February 21, 9:07 PM

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said on the Rich Eisen Show on Friday that the Los Angeles Rams have given quarterback Matthew Stafford's agent permission to talk with other teams to gauge his contract value this offseason if he were to be traded. It also helps the Rams in their own negotiations with Stafford by letting the market determine what his value could be in 2025. Pelissero says that it seems like the Rams and Stafford's priority is to run it back in 2025, but if nothing is settled in a couple of weeks, a trade could become more likely. It will all come down to what Stafford views as fair compensation for his services for another year and what the Rams are willing to pay him. If the Rams and Stafford cannot agree on a new deal, the 37-year-old veteran QB will become the most coveted signal-caller available after his strong finish in which the Rams almost beat the eventual Super Bowl-champion Eagles in the playoffs.

Monday, February 3, 9:00 PM

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that some in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization are comfortable with Justin Fields as the starting quarterback in 2025. Fields has upside and more mobility than impending free-agent QB Russell Wilson. However, an NFC executive said that Fields didn't have much chemistry with wide receiver George Pickens, so that could play a part in who the Steelers choose to move forward with in 2025. Both Fields and Wilson will be free agents in March, and the Steelers are only expected to keep one of them moving forward. The 25-year-old Fields may be a better rushing asset than Wilson, but what he gains in mobility, he lacks in downfield passing and accuracy. The former first-rounder of the Chicago Bears in 2021 went 4-2 as a starter for Pittsburgh in 2024, throwing for 1,106 yards, five TDs and one pick while also rushing for 289 yards and five more scores.