The Chicago Bears had all their ducks in a row. Their immediate future coming into next month’s NFL draft was clearly mapped out. Blessed with the overall no. 1 pick in the draft and another first-round pick at no. 9, things looked bright. USC blue chip quarterback prospect Caleb Williams, the kid with, perhaps, the highest ceiling of all incoming pros, would be theirs if they wanted him.
To make things better, they had a legit starting QB in Justin Fields they would then be able to deal to acquire even more draft capital. Not too long ago, a few experts believed that Fields could even bring in a first-round pick.
Then, Fields’ value fell to a second-rounder. After that, experts were talking about a day 2 pick for the 3-year veteran and former first-round draft pick.
And now, after a frenzied lighting round of QB signings in the first 24 hours of free agency negotiations, it’s hard to imagine any market whatsoever for the 25-year-old Fields.
No Fields Trade Partners Left For Chicago Bears?
Essentially, pretty much every team who might have had interest in dealing for the Bears starting QB addressed their QB needs on Monday.
The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal, away from the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL.com is reporting that the Vikings are filling their QB vacancy via one-year deal with veteran Sam Darnold.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed now-former Denver Bronco Russell Wilson to a one-year deal.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year deal.
The New England Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal.
The New York Jets even signed Tyrod Taylor to a two-year deal as a backup to Aaron Rodgers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed Baker Mayfield to a multi-year deal before he could even hit the free agent market.
To make matters worse for the Fields trade-minded Bears, incoming rookie quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix Jr. emerged from the combine in Indianapolis as legitimate QB options for teams further down in the draft who won’t be able to pick Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels.
Bears Life Without The Trade
So, where does that leave Chicago when it comes to Fields? In a word– nowhere.
There could be some teams still in the market for a solid backup, but, realistically, what could the Bears get in return for someone a team plans to sit on the bench? Maybe…maybe…a fourth-rounder?
For that return, they might as well hold on to Fields as their own backup for Williams or whoever they choose with their no. 1 pick. Maybe later in the season, if injury drops someone’s starting QB, the Bears could deal Fields for a more significant return.
However, having Fields on hand, behind the Bears’ newly-drafted QB1, might make for an awkward and uncomfortable situation for the young player the team hopes will take them to the next level.
Build Around Fields?
There is another option for the Bears, though– one being championed by a few experts and by certain vocal members of the team, such as wide receiver DJ Moore. They could keep Fields as their starting quarterback and build around him, using their no. 1 pick in the draft to trade back for a haul of talent to give him the tools he needs to succeed. They’d be banking on the improvements seen in Fields in the second half of last season to continue through next season.
One NFL media expert feels that even trading one spot back with the Washington Commanders could get Chicago the stellar top wide receiver prospect Marvin Harrison Jr. in the no. 2 slot, Washington’s second-round draft pick this year, and possibly a first-round draft pick next year.
Whatever the case, this is not the same market the Bears were hoping for just a couple of months ago. The front office will now have to adapt or be prepared to take a major loss on Fields.