The Chicago Bears have solved at least part of their quarterback dilemma. On Saturday, the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Soldier Field nachos voucher, a 2-for-1 Applebee’s coupon, and a sack of slightly damaged footballs to be used in practice.
Well, not quite…but almost.
Actually, Chicago acquired a sixth-round draft pick in 2025, which could become a fourth-round pick in the unlikely event that Fields plays in 51% of the snaps this upcoming season. So, Bears fans should be crossing their fingers that new Steelers starting quarterback Russell Wilson gets abducted by aliens or suddenly retires to a life of peaceful commune living after taking a shot of Aaron Rodgers-supplied ayahuasca.
In short, the Steelers got a steal and the Bears got fleeced. I haven’t seen such an unbalanced trade since I swapped my baloney sandwich with Mark Zajac in the third grade for an Optimus Prime Transformer.
The Truth About Justin Fields
Fields WAS 10-28 as a starter over the course of his three years as a Bear. His numbers WERE bottom of the barrel compared to other league quarterbacks. But, at the same time, he was also asked to do his thing as the team transitioned through two sets of coaches and front offices, with, generally speaking, not a whole lot of on-field aid to help him succeed.
The second half of this past season saw Fields improve significantly, morphing from someone who occasionally showed glimpses of brilliance into someone who was beginning to understand who he was as a player and how to get the most of himself. His teammates have loudly supported his starting QB status.
But that just wasn’t enough to keep him on a team blessed with the no. 1 overall pick in this April’s NFL draft (and an unwillingness to pick up a fifth-year option on a, thus far, inconsistent QB).
“We have engaged in multiple trade conversations in recent weeks and believe trading Justin at this time to Pittsburgh is what is best for both Justin and the Bears,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in a team statement after the deal was announced. “Today we spoke to Justin to inform him of the trade and the rationale behind it for us as a Club. We want to thank him for his tireless dedication, leadership and all he poured into our franchise and community the last three years and wish him the best towards a long and successful NFL career.”
Chicago Bears, Ryan Poles Botched Justin Fields Trade
Apologists will point to a “weak trade market” as the reason for Chicago’s poor return on Fields. Others may point to the Bears’ poor timing in cutting a deal as, perhaps, the biggest reason they got so little for a former first-round pick who the team spent a haul to move up and draft in 2021.
If Chicago had pulled the trigger on a deal around the time of the combine or before– when there was legit debate around whether they’d keep Fields and build around him– the return would’ve likely been greater. Some media people– ok…actually just one, Mel Kiper Jr.– thought the Bears could get a first-round pick for Fields. Most, however, thought Fields would at least bring in a second-rounder. But by holding on to Fields until after QB-needy teams picked through free agency to find signal callers, they allowed the market to collapse before they could step through the door.
What the heck could the Bears get for a quarterback they didn’t want and didn’t plan to keep in a market now full of teams that didn’t need him? To answer my own question– obviously, next to nothing.
In late February, Poles stated that he wanted to “do right by” Fields as trade scenarios began to emerge. In the end, however, Poles didn’t do right by Chicago.
Whether to keep Fields as QB1 was not really the issue. Most had resigned themselves to the fact that Fields would NOT be the guy for the Bears next year. But Poles and the front office botched this whole Fields situation. They should’ve gotten more for a guy who could very well go on to become what the Bears had hoped he would become in Chicago.
1 Comment
In what way did you do the best for Justin was landing in Atlanta not a good place he would not want to go and for what in trade not a disgusted and dishonoring his value and it like given away to just get rid of him at any cost I would be ashamed of myself Mr. Poles very ashamed I would rather loose with Justin than win with
someone I don’t like or better still someone I dislike and will see the negativity he will bring on to the whole organization AND you were doing so well Mr. Poles until now but you only have been so disrespectful in my evaluation to me an ardent fan of Bears but on bright side a new fan of the Pittsburg Steelers so what ta hell I am only one fan so what do you care only one