At the NFL combine, Bears general manager Ryan Poles said the team wants to "do right by" Justin Fields if they trade him. Polish officials hoped to find him a new home by March 13, NFL free agency. Today is March 15. No such thing happened. Nobody thinks the Bears will keep Fields.
Fields doesn't appear to have any definite league starting slots. The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins, Buccaneers re-signed Baker Mayfield, and Seahawks traded for Sam Howell. Commanding and Patriots are anticipated to choose quarterbacks. The Vikings acquired another first-round pick from the Texans, likely to trade up for a quarterback.
By not trading for Fields, the league has established him as a backup. Inactivity in the league is an indication. If someone wanted him, they'd swap by now. It hasn't. However, a top backup place came up Friday. The Steelers traded former first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Eagles, giving Pittsburgh a backup position though Philadelphia lost one. Fields would back up Russell Wilson, who was signed this summer for one year.
It benefits both sides. The Steelers signed Wilson for one year. One more season on his rookie contract and an open future awaits Fields. Fields would take over if Wilson falters. A trade might happen anytime if the Steelers want to. Pittsburgh would have to make an offer to Poles since the Bears haven't been aggressively shopping Fields. The Bears may not trade Justin Fields until the NFL draft in late April.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin remarked on "Get Up!" that "most sources I've spoken with gave me the indication that they believe that somebody in the draft will not get the quarterback that they want." "And that could be the best time for Ryan Poles to strike and to get closer to the draft compensation that he had originally sought after."
The 2024 NFL draft is predicted to see three quarterbacks selected by the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots in the first three rounds. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, unless otherwise stated.
After that, the Giants, Vikings, Raiders, Steelers, and Seahawks may seek quarterbacks. Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr., and Oregon's Bo Nix are potential first-round quarterbacks behind the top three. The Bears might wait for clubs to fail on a signal caller in the draft. According to Cronin, they may shop Fields and hope his price rises depending on quarterback demand.
The process has been difficult for Fields. This free agency has showed how the league regards Fields. Any team interested in him must give the Bears assets and determine by May whether to take up his $22 million fifth-year option.
Not an easy pill to swallow. Neither do his first three years' numbers support his argument. Watch for the Bears to trade Fields. If they do, his departure is probable around or during the draft, unless a team wants him before then.
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