Justin Fields, quarterback of the Chicago Bears, has showed more and more signs of being the offensive team leader the front office expected when he was taken in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Is his developing field maturity and efficiency supporting the case for him to stay in Chicago, or is it simply increasing his trade worth on the open market?
The Bears have practically clinched the overall first-round pick from the Carolina Panthers in this year’s draft. That means they’ll have first dibs on USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. It also means that the temptation to move on from Fields, a three-year veteran, will be enormous.
The Chicago Bears Have Alternatives
But the Bears have options, and one would think that the organization is discussing Fields and his future.
One possibility would be for Fields to remain in place as the club continues to build around him. They could even trade away the first overall pick for the second straight season in order to get additional talent, moving lower in the draft to have access to more of what they require.
Of course, another alternative is to choose Williams first overall and then trade Justin Fields for additional draft cash.
“The Falcons would send the Bears a second-round pick this year and a 2025 second-round pick with incentives that could turn into a first-rounder ‘based on production and playing time.'”
Future quarterback Desmond Ridder was benched several times in favor of Taylor Heinicke, who completed fewer than 60% of his passes and had an 80-point rating. It’s a grim scenario for an otherwise excellent squad that’s asking for a costly quick fix this March,’ Spotrac says.”
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Falcons, who will be in town on Sunday to play Fields and the Bears in the season’s penultimate game, may be scouting the Chicago quarterback for a possible spot as the team’s starting.
Why Fields Is a Good Fit for the Falcons
Bringing Fields, a Georgia native and lifelong Falcons fan, to Atlanta would be a fitting way to make amends for the team’s decision to pass on the Ohio State standout with the fourth overall choice in the 2021 draft.
Instead, the Falcons selected Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, who had a strong rookie season, finishing second in the NFL in receiving yards among rookie tight ends and earning a Pro Bowl spot. Pitts, on the other hand, has never been able to recapture the brilliance he displayed in his rookie season.
Meanwhile, the Falcons have struggled at quarterback, with rising prospect Desmond Ridder getting benched on many occasions and the backup options behind him not faring much better.
To put it bluntly, the Falcons are simply too excellent overall to be hampered by a void at the most important position. With their 2024 draft pick coming somewhere after number 10, finding a quarterback impact talent is nearly impossible.
As a result, trading for Fields appears to be the logical choice for a “ready right now” quarterback on a “ready to win right now” club.
Other teams, meanwhile, have emerged as prospective bidders for Fields, who is 24 years old. The Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Minnesota Vikings have all been suggested as possible suitors.
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