San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who is gearing up to play in the Super Bowl this weekend, spoke with reporters during Media Day on Monday, February 5. When asked about Fields, whom most of the league anticipates will be traded, Kittle offered his perspective. "Wow, this is putting me on the spot. All of Chicago listening to this one," Kittle remarked, according to X video provided by former NFL tight end Clay Harbor. "I think what the Bears should do is, personally, I think they should trade back and get as many picks as they can and build around a guy that they've been trying to build around. Give the guy some actual options, I mean, he has options, but just help him out as much as you possibly can to build him up as big as you can, and trust the kid."
The consensus across the NFL indicates that the Bears could receive a significant haul if they opt to trade back from the top pick in the upcoming draft. Last year, Chicago acquired two first-rounders, two second-rounders, and star wide receiver DJ Moore from the Carolina Panthers for the No. 1 overall selection. It remains to be seen whether the Bears can justify passing on top prospects like CJ Stroud and Caleb Williams in back-to-back drafts.
Despite Kittle's suggestion that the Bears retain Fields, it's noteworthy that the 49ers themselves traded up in the 2021 draft to select quarterback Trey Lance, sacrificing three first-round picks to move from No. 12 to No. 3. Lance, however, played just eight games across two seasons for San Francisco before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys last August. His tenure was cut short by a serious ankle injury early in 2022, paving the way for Brock Purdy to shine for the 49ers.
Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 draft, has excelled for the 49ers, leading them to the NFC Championship Game in 2022 and now to the Super Bowl this weekend. Should the Bears select Williams with the top pick in April, they'll aim to win with a player who represents the opposite end of the draft spectrum from Purdy. This decision would involve trading away Fields, who could have potentially found success with the 49ers had circumstances aligned differently three years ago.
