High-Profile AFC Team Connected to Trade Talks Involving Justin Fields
The Chicago Bears may find themselves with little choice but to trade quarterback Justin Fields during the upcoming offseason, and one of the NFL's top franchises has emerged as a potential destination.
The Las Vegas Raiders have gone through a series of changes, including releasing Derek Carr, signing Jimmy Garoppolo to a significant contract and subsequently benching him, changing head coaches, and now starting rookie QB Aidan O'Connell. These circumstances make the Raiders an attractive trade partner for the Bears, who are seeking answers at the quarterback position. Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote on November 24 that the Raiders could indeed be interested in Fields if the Bears make him available.
"This is undoubtedly a possibility, although Aidan O'Connell will have a say in how this plays out with his performance over the next six games," Bonsignore wrote. "The Raiders do have a connection to Fields. Interim general manager Champ Kelly was with the Bears front office when they drafted the former Ohio State standout."
Fields' trade value has fluctuated, with concerns about his limitations, but his potential remains evident. ESPN's Bill Barnwell suggested earlier this year that Fields' trade value had dipped out of the first-round range, but a strong finish to the season following his return from a dislocated thumb could elevate it back to that level. In his two games since returning, Fields has completed nearly 72% of his passes with ratings of 105.2 and 87.3, respectively.
However, Fields has only produced one touchdown in those two games while fumbling three times and committing two turnovers. The Bears' struggles have led to calls from the national media to move on from Fields if the opportunity arises to draft a top quarterback prospect.
Chicago currently owns the No. 4 overall pick and the top overall selection via the Carolina Panthers, giving them leverage if they decide to make Fields available.
Fields will be 25 years old next season with only a $6 million salary cap hit, making him an attractive option for teams in need of a young, affordable quarterback with significant potential. The 2024 draft class is also deep at quarterback, which could lead to considerable interest in Fields from multiple NFL teams.
If the Raiders want to secure an elite quarterback prospect, they may need to part ways with their No. 11 pick, the same selection the Bears used to draft Fields in 2021. This trade could be part of a larger package to move up in the draft, as other top quarterback prospects like Caleb Williams of USC and Drake Maye of North Carolina are expected to be highly sought after.
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30 NOVEMBRE | 1 ANSWERS High-Profile AFC Team Connected to Trade Talks Involving Justin Fields Should the Bears trade Justin Fields while his value is high? | ||
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