The Chicago Bears are expected to select USC Heisman award-winning blue chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams with the overall no. 1 pick in this April’s NFL draft. That means starting QB for the last three seasons, Justin Fields, will be traded away.
The questions are: Where will Fields be dealt and what return could he bring to the team?
Back when it was still unclear whether the Bears would have that overall no. 1 pick, the estimate of his value was very conservative. In a piece by Yahoo! Sports senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson, which questioned several unnamed NFL general managers, the feeling was that, at best, Chicago could expect a second and a fourth round pick for Fields.
But, perhaps, that was a bit of a premature assessment.
Chicago Bears Will Benefit From Bidding War for Justin Fields
In recent days, it appears that there may be a bit of a bidding war brewing when it comes to teams interested in the Bears’ talented, but inconsistent quarterback. That battle among organizations desperate for a field-ready QB with high-end potential could bag the Bears a premium return in a pre-draft deal.
Among the teams reported as potentially interested in Fields are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and, most recently, the Cleveland Browns. The appeal seems to be that Fields would be more of a sure thing than any quarterback available via draft to any of these teams this year. There’s also a belief among many that Fields, with the right tweaks and working under the right system, could become an elite-level performer.
Fields: The Down Side
On the down side, though, is the reality that he’s yet to show anything more than flashes of brilliance during his run in Chicago, notching a meager a 10-28 record as a starter. A 2021 Bears draftee, Fields has 40 touchdown passes, 30 interceptions, and 38 fumbles in his NFL career thus far. He’s also demonstrated a disturbing trend towards collapse in crucial fourth quarter circumstances.
There’s also a financial issue that comes along with Fields. Any team that brings him aboard will have one year with him under his financially reasonable rookie deal and then will have to decide what to do regarding his fifth-year option.
“He’s not that good, if we’re being honest,” Denver Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright of KOAColorado bluntly said, regarding Fields’ relative worth as a player. “He’s an athletic marvel, but as a passer it’s not been good. It’s not all been the offensive line or receivers either, he’s just not been that good.
“…That’s not to say that Justin can’t turn into something. That’s not to say the offense wasn’t holding him back. It’s just saying that he’s not been good to date…That’s not all the supporting cast and the offense. Part of that is you at some point….Around the league he’s viewed a little bit lower, perhaps, than fans and media view him.”
But the desperation for a possible high-end quarterback is real among many teams. Only two or three of those, maybe, possibly, could be available in this upcoming draft– and one of them will be going to the Bears.
Fields: The Up Side
And, for every negative assessment of Fields, there are also glowing shows of support. Notably, his wider receiver DJ Moore has been very vocal about keeping him in Chicago.
“He’s a dynamic player, dynamic quarterback,” Moore told reporters back in December. “We want him here. I’ve been having a great year with him, so that should speak volumes.”
The Las Vegas Raiders’ new offensive coordinator (and former Bears offensive coordinator) Luke Getsy also sings Fields’ praises loudly.
“Tremendous growth for Justin,” Getsy told media at a recent press conference. “Like I said when I was there, he’s one of the best human beings I’ve ever got to work with. It’s just the mentality that he brought every day, the consistent approach, the kind of man that he is. Just really, it was a blessing to work with him and he was someone that just came to work every day to get better and better, and I think he’ll continue to do so.”
Last month, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN First Draft opined that Fields could bring a first-round draft pick to Chicago from the Atlanta Falcons. At the time, that was thought by many to be an overstatement. However, given the market and the possible mindsets of the teams competing to make the best deal for the Bears QB, a first-rounder may be quite possible.
1 Comment
Their is so much said that Justin should be traded but on the other side you claim so many teams would hope to trade for him How explain to me why so many teams want him that we should trade him Many want hi but we don’t that maybe why Bears are not showing good future in making playoffs I read articles that has CW as only a forth round talent and it would be a serious mistake picking him to replace Justin BIG MISTAKE Keep JUSTIN … GM Poles