Justin Fields, everybody’s favorite speculated Steeler, was 13 picks away from being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021.

In a Feb. 19 appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac offered an insider nugget on the quarterback.

“If he were on the board and the Steelers had the opportunity, they would take Justin Fields — I was told this by a coach — over any other player,” Dulac said.

Fields was gone with pick No. 11 and the Steelers took Najee Harris 13 picks later at No. 24.

Dulac was merely trying to drive home the point of just how much the Steelers loved Fields coming out of Ohio State.

“If all of a sudden they brought in Justin Fields, I wouldn’t be shocked. I’d be a little mildly surprised, and I say that because they are committed to one more year with Kenny Pickett.”

This, again, shows why Fields will not be coming to the Steelers in 2024. The former first-round draft pick won’t go somewhere he, at the least, has a shot at starting.

Some fans are frustrated with Pittsburgh’s patience with Pickett. But, ultimately, it’s the right move. It was only two years and 24 starts ago that he was taken No. 20 overall. That’s an investment. He’s 14-10 in those starts and deserves to be extended an opportunity under the new offensive regime.

Story originally appeared on Steelers Wire