Did anyone believe it was prudent to exercise a 2025 contract option valued at more than $25 million for a player entering this season as a backup who was given up on by his previous team in exchange for nothing guaranteed more than a sixth-round pick?

No? Some might have been seduced by the big name Justin Fields carries after a stellar college career and three seasons of flashing talent as an NFL starter. But it never was a realistic consideration the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to commit to paying him the approximately $25.7 million next season under the terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement for fifth-year former first-round picks.

Not with Fields entering this season as the backup to Russell Wilson.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter cited league sources in reporting Wednesday morning that the Steelers, indeed, will decline Fields’ fifth-year option. The team has until May 2 — a week from Thursday’s start of the draft — to do so.

Anyone paying close attention to Monday’s pre-draft Steelers news conference might have noticed how general manager Omar Khan let it slip that the roster currently has three quarterbacks on one-year contracts.

The others are Wilson (a league-minimum $1.21 million) and journeyman No. 3 Kyle Allen ($1.293 million). Fields is making $1.62 million from the Steelers this season under the terms of the contact he signed as the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 draft by the Chicago Bears.

Related:

• Chris Adamski’s Steelers mock draft: Doubling up on Georgia tackles… and ex-Cornell players?
• NFL Draft Guide 2024: Who Steelers might pick, position breakdowns, mock drafts
• Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: QB class will impact Steelers even if they don't take one

In anticipation of taking USC star QB Caleb Williams No. 1 overall Thursday, the Bears dealt Fields to the Steelers last month for a 2025 sixth-round pick that could upgrade to a fourth rounder if Fields take more than half the snaps for the Steelers this season.

Incidentally, the Steelers likewise have a fifth-year option decision to make on running back Najee Harris. As the No. 24 overall pick and playing a less-lucrative position than Fields, however, Harris’ option is valued at $6.79 million.

Upcoming Local Events

More local events

Is it worth noting that in reporting on Fields, Schefter did not mention Harris for what is the same decision? Maybe. But only if he got his news from the team’s end. More likely his scoop came from Fields’ camp.

2 decades ago

The traditional 20th anniversary gift is china. You might want to purchase your Steelers-fan buddy some fine porcelain ceramic dishes today — it’s been exactly 20 years since his or her favorite team made a draft choice that played a major role in winning two Super Bowls.

Ben Roethlisberger was drafted No. 11 overall April 24, 2004. He was the third quarterback taken that year after Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, who went Nos. 1 and 4 and were traded for each other to end up on the Giants and Chargers, respectively. It’s presumed all three will end up in the Hall of Fame.

An oft-recited account of that day relays that the Browns — at No. 6 overall — passed on Roethlisberger, who grew up in Ohio as a fan of theirs, because they were pleased with their signing of Jeff Garcia weeks prior. They instead took tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.

Though Winslow had 1,106 receiving yards in 2007 and was named to the Pro Bowl, he never participated in a Browns playoff game, left the team in 2009… and is now in the midst of serving a 14-year prison sentence.

Unlike the Browns, the Steelers were undeterred by having their own veteran capable-enough quarterback (Tommy Maddox) in deciding to take Roethlisberger. He went on to start three Super Bowls (winning two) and retired two years ago among the top eight in NFL history in passing yards, touchdowns and completions.

Garcia lasted one year in Cleveland, ranking 24th in the league passer rating and 21st in yards per attempt with a 10-to-9 TD-to-INT ratio. Roethlisberger beat him twice as a rookie that season and went on to a 26-2-1 career record against the team he cheered for as a child.

Birthday Bailey dealing

Some fans questioned Pirates management for acquiring Bailey Falter for infielder Rodolfo Castro last August. Even more questioned him being in the starting rotation out of spring training ahead of say … 2023 No. 1 pick Paul Skenes.

Featured Local Businesses

More local businesses

But to his credit, Falter has not, well, faltered. He has prospered.

On Tuesday night, he allowed just three hits and one run with eight strikeouts and two walks in a 2-1 win over the NL Central-leading Brewers (14-8), helping the Pirates (13-11) to their second straight win after being swept by the Mets and Red Sox.

He is 2-1 this season with a 3.33 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP.

That’s a significant improvement from last season when he was 2-2 with a 5.58 ERA in 10 games after joining the Bucs at the trade deadline.

Falter, who turned 27 on Wednesday, has certainly looked the part of a reliable starter to this point in the season.

He was rewarded for his effort Tuesday with a Gatorade shower during a postgame interview on Pittsburgh SportsNet.

Start goes sour for DeSmith

Former Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith got the call to start in net for the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night with starter Thatcher Demko out.

He allowed three goals on 15 shots as the Canucks fell to Nashville, 4-1, to tie their first-round series at a game apiece.

Fans were behind DeSmith early — very early — before he allowed a goal to Filip Forsberg 1 minute, 14 seconds into the game.

It was DeSmith’s second start in the playoffs. Penguins fans might remember his first during the 2022 postseason when he was relieved by Louis Domingue in a triple-overtime thriller against the Rangers. That’s when Domingue’s famous “spicy pork and broccoli” line was born.

That night, DeSmith stopped 48 of the 51 shots he faced before he was injured in the second overtime. Domingue secured the 4-3 win. DeSmith missed the rest of the playoffs that season before undergoing core surgery.

Upcoming Local Events

More local events

DeSmith had a 12-9-6 record with a 2.89 goals-against average and .895 save percentage for Vancouver this season.

Fellow former Penguin Jason Zucker had an assist for the Predators.

Game 3 is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Nashville.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.