Amid NFL trade rumors, the Bears must adopt a more proactive approach in exploring options to trade Justin Fields.
The NFL's legal tampering period for free agency commenced Monday afternoon, witnessing swift and significant moves by teams. Multiple quarterbacks swiftly exited the market, consequently diminishing potential landing spots for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
The Atlanta Falcons secured Kirk Cousins with a hefty four-year, $180 million deal (as reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero). Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers sealed a one-year contract with Russell Wilson at the veteran's minimum (as per ESPN's Adam Schefter). Gardner Minshew's signing with the Las Vegas Raiders for $25 million over two years, per Pelissero, further underscores the shrinking opportunities for Fields.
With the landscape shifting, it's imperative for the Bears to expedite the process of trading Fields. However, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, they have yet to fully engage in the process: "They seem to be open to trading Fields, they're really not yet engaged, really not yet started that process," Rapoport stated on NFL Network on Monday.
The impending decision for the Bears revolves around selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. Williams, the standout quarterback in the 2024 draft class, offers immense potential to uplift the Bears, should they opt for him.
Given this scenario, it logically follows for Chicago to draft Williams and seek a trade for Fields, the former first-round pick from the 2021 draft. At 25, Fields has not fully realized his potential over his initial three NFL seasons, making a change of scenery potentially beneficial for him.
However, finding a suitable destination for Fields presents a challenge, as few quarterback vacancies remain. While the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos are without quarterbacks following recent developments, trading Fields within the NFC North to a division rival like the Vikings seems improbable.
Denver emerges as a plausible landing spot for Fields, albeit necessitating concerted efforts from Chicago to facilitate a trade. Despite the likelihood of Fields' trade value diminishing due to the Bears' intentions to clear the path for Williams, holding onto him as a backup offers little long-term benefit.
With Williams poised to assume the starting role from day one, the Bears need not retain Fields as a bridge quarterback. Therefore, it's incumbent upon Chicago to aggressively pursue trade options for Fields before remaining potential landing spots become even scarcer.
| POLL | ||
12 MARS | 120 ANSWERS Amid NFL trade rumors, the Bears must adopt a more proactive approach in exploring options to trade Justin Fields. Is Justin Fields a top 15 QB in the NFL? | ||
| Yes | 70 | 58.3 % |
| No | 50 | 41.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
