Ex-Ohio State star will be among the ‘best values’ in NFL free agency as he tries to get his career on track

We have less than a couple of weeks to go until the legal tampering begins in the NFL and teams can begin negotiating with free agents.

Of course, a few Buckeyes will be on the move to new destinations potentially.

One former Buckeye to keep an eye on is QB Justin Fields, who could have several suitors on the open market. After spending the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fields could look to take his career elsewhere, or potentially even return to the Steelers.

Justin Fields was labeled as the ‘best value’ in free agency at the quarterback position

In a recent piece put together here at A to Z Sports, the best values at each position group were put together. Fields was named the quarterback that could provide the best value for the contract he is projected to receive.

“Fields is free agency’s best QB value for two main reasons. For starters, he’s projected to receive a deal within the range of $6.4-$8.5 million, which is a steal, even for an experienced backup. Gardner Minshew signed a $12.5 million per year deal during the 2024 offseason and he’s far less talented than Fields. He also had 37 career starts compared to Fields’ 38 coming into the 2024 season and was benched later in the year. Sure, Fields was replaced by Russell Wilson, but that was strictly a result of design, not performance. Meaning, the above price range, or even Pro Football Focus’ projection of $11 million per year, is a value that’s nearly impossible to pass up.” — Evan Winter, A to Z Sports

Fields’ career hasn’t gone to plan to this point after being a first-round pick to the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fields played three seasons with the Bears and played in 40 games for them, but wasn’t able to convince Chicago that he was the long-term answer, so they went in a different direction with Caleb Williams.

After being traded to the Steelers for next to nothing, Fields started the first six games for Pittsburgh and then they turned it over to Russell Wilson. Not that it was anything Fields did, but it was predetermined Wilson was the starter once he was healthy.

Pittsburgh could hand the keys to the offense to Fields in 2024, or he could end up with another team. It is no guarantee that the former Ohio State star will be a starter in 2025, but he should at least have a chance to compete.