With the NFL offseason comes predictions and bold takes. That specifically happens with trades that could happen before the season or the deadline. With that in mind, Justin Fields becomes an intriguing trade option, and if he is traded again, it will be to the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are in a spot where they could go two ways. Try to be competitive this season in a year again where the NFC South is wide open, or go for a rebuild. Either way, Derek Carr is not the franchise quarterback for the Saints, and they need to start looking at ways to upgrade the position. The best option for right now or in the future is Justin Fields.

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Granted, he was just traded from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but right now, he is projected behind Russell Wilson and has the talent to actually lead a team. Over three seasons with the Bears, Fields had rushed for 2,216 yards and 14 touchdowns to go with passing for 6,674 yards and 40 touchdowns. Fields’ pocket maneuverability is something that will be a spark for the Saints’ offense that lacks that elevating factor at the moment.

The extra encouraging factor with Fields is how he started to mature after coming back from his thumb injury last season. Fields progressed in reading the field to locate open receivers and not getting caught up on his first read. He started using more deception as well with switching the ball between hands on fakes, and using his eyes to draw defenders, leading to the field being opened up more.

The intriguing option with this too is reuniting Fields with Chris Olave. Over their season at Ohio State together, Olave put up 849 yards and 12 touchdowns. The two reuniting at the NFL level would immediately make them a top duo. Not to mention Fields’ dual-threat ability mixed with Alvin Kamara would create a nightmare backfield duo in New Orleans.

After declining Fields’ fifth-year option, it’s clear that he isn’t necessarily in the Steelers’ long-term plans. If Pittsburgh is in a selling spot by the trade deadline they would be smart to trade Fields and get draft capital for him and start their own rebuild. For the Saints, this is a smart play for their own future to change the shape of their franchise by trading for Fields.

CLEMSON — Outfielder Will Taylor from Clemson baseball was selected 145th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB draft on Monday.

Taylor gave up football to play baseball full-time at Clemson. The 145th pick has a slot value of $471,400.

Here’s what Taylor brings to Pittsburgh, based on our own observations from his tenure at Clemson:

What Will Taylor brings to Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 MLB Draft

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Taylor could have been taken in the MLB draft out of Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina, in 2021 but chose to be a two-sport athlete at Clemson. Taylor is a tough, strong athlete, who had his best season in 2023. He hit .362 with 23 extra-base hits (including five home runs), 46 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, winning the team’s most improved player award.

Taylor also has strong discipline at the plate, recording 48 walks in 2023 to lead Clemson and 33 the following year. However, he has injury concerns. He tore a ligament in his right knee as a freshman while playing football that led to two surgeries.

MORE: Where Clemson baseball finished in the USA TODAY Top 25 after NCAA super regional run

The South Carolina native broke his left wrist this April too, which limited him to a .230 batting average over 32 games in 2024. MLB.com says he still carries power as a right-handed hitter, but his burst and explosiveness on the base paths and outfield has reduced. Yet, he improved his speed stock at the MLB combine when he ran 3.609 in the 30-yard dash to record the fifth fastest time at the event.

Will Taylor’s stats at Clemson baseball

Over 368 at-bats in 107 games, Taylor recorded:

• .313 batting average
• 13 home runs
• 69 RBIs
• 18 stole bases

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

by Fawn Walker-Montgomery

For this column, I want to continue the conversation around Juneteenth. Specifically, passing it as a federal holiday as not enough. Last time, I compared the current situation with Juneteenth in Pittsburgh to either/or thinking, which is a tool of White supremacy. Furthermore, I highlighted the need for local celebrations to center sustainable long-term collective education within the Black community. I am referring to the decision to spend over $200,000 on two celebrations instead of using funds to have multiple events throughout the city. While I appreciate the highlighting of Black entertainment, art and revenue to local Black businesses, a higher priority should be placed on education and sustainable programming to help the Black community. This could also result in a collective shift in thinking, increase conscious levels and self-reliance among the local Black community. Additionally, simply recognizing Juneteenth and hosting events is not a substitute for addressing the ongoing racism faced by Black people.

Since the age of 11, I have been active in the movement for Black liberation and social justice, took part in various racial justice causes and led protests in 2020, etc. Therefore, I can say with a full chest that “making Juneteenth a federal holiday is not what we asked for.” We want liberation, justice, release of political prisoners, resources and the return of stolen land. In addition, more radical responses and policies that would push us further towards abolition. One way that this could have been done locally is to defund the over 100 police departments here in Allegheny County and then put the money towards issues that affect the Black community, such as housing, education, and environmental justice. Moreover, implementing the demands that were put out by various local activist groups during the 2020 uprisings. Instead, we got Juneteenth, government-funded diversity committees, violent police responses such as rubber bullets, and excessive charges for protesters. This issue of having an effective response to Black needs is further emphasized by the commercialization of Juneteenth, from the performative holiday celebrations to White people wearing kente cloths. At times this is upheld by Black people, whether we realize it or not. This relates to what I previously discussed in my earlier columns about Black people comprising our way out of liberation and keeping White people comfortable. Both Black-led nonprofits and Black liberals in positions of power deal with this.

In nonprofits and local governments, grants are common sources of funding, used to help our communities. These funds are often not controlled by us and come with rigid requirements and unrealistic expectations of labor. In an effort to get resources, some get caught into the trap of compromising too much. Similar to capitalism, the relationship starts out good. Initially, you manage to help Black people get resources and hire Black folks. However, you slowly start to notice patterns where funders predominantly suggest White partners for collaboration, promote safe advocacy and respectability politics, push for rushed events that lack tangible resources for Black people and instill a fear of losing grant funding if you are “too Black.” Consequentially, Black issues become whitewashed and are essentially pushed to the backburner or mixed in with multiracial efforts.

To avoid this from occurring, it’s imperative to develop a strong mindset. Surround yourself with like-minded people who share your values for the Black community. Engage in study, read, and reflect on your history. Speaking from personal experience, having a connection to our ancestors and studying has helped me to stay rooted in community. This will aid in developing community-based solutions that help us and future generations.

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