If the Chicago Bears Trade Justin Fields, Here’s Where He Could Play Next

A 12 months in the past on the NFL Scouting Combine, Chicago Bears basic supervisor Ryan Poles introduced that his crew used to be open for industry — the primary select within the 2023 draft used to be to be had.

“We need a lot, and that (first pick) gives us more opportunity to bring in more players,” Poles mentioned then. “It’s a good situation to be in for where our club is.”

The mix then was an information-gathering project for Poles and the Bears. They had to do their due diligence at the quarterback elegance, which integrated interviews with Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.

But Poles additionally had to go away Indianapolis with a correct gauge of the business marketplace for the primary select — and he were given it. A couple of days after the mix concluded, the Bears traded the primary select to the Carolina Panthers.

The objectives for Poles at this 12 months’s mix will have to be identical. The Bears will meet with the most productive quarterbacks: USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and probably others.

And then Poles additionally may have business markets to really feel out thru his conversations with different GMs. Similar to ultimate 12 months, one marketplace might be for the primary select. Another might be for present starter Justin Fields.

For Poles and the Bears, what’s the higher possibility? Is it sticking with a quarterback who has the conclusion of his teammates however nonetheless ranks within the backside 0.33 within the league in lots of statistical spaces? Or is it passing on the most productive QBs within the draft for the second one 12 months in a row?

Which groups might be focused on Fields?

According to NFL.com, 66 quarterbacks began for groups all through the 2023 season. That’s so much. But two extra began for groups all through the 2022 season. That’s wild.

Teams are all the time in search of quarterbacks — and a few gained’t have the ability to to find solutions in unfastened firm or within the draft. Unlike different groups, the Bears have sure bet with the primary select.

There have been 12 quarterbacks integrated in Randy Mueller’s scores of the highest 150 unfastened brokers for The Athletic. Only two of them — the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield — made the highest 20. San Francisco 49ers backup Sam Darnold used to be subsequent at No. 98.

The business marketplace comes subsequent. Teams will search sure bet at an important place in sports activities heading into the draft. There can be a aggressive marketplace for Fields.

With the assistance of The Athletic’s beat writers, listed below are 5 possible business companions to believe because the NFL global descends on Indianapolis subsequent week.

Atlanta Falcons

New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson didn’t give away a lot when speaking about what the crew needs in its subsequent quarterback.

“Whether it’s a pocket guy, whether it’s a guy who can move around a little bit, we’re just going to be looking for the best guy,” Robinson mentioned.

However, the reality Robinson has spent his whole profession below Rams trainer Sean McVay in Los Angeles suggests he’s in search of a Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford kind. Fields’ giant arm will enchantment to Robinson, regardless that. Robinson mentioned the very first thing he appears to be like for is “how somebody throws the football and what that looks like.”

Whether the Falcons pursue Fields would possibly merely come all the way down to choices. They don’t have a transparent trail to their subsequent quarterback making an allowance for they select 8th within the first around, and Atlanta isn’t one of the crucial league’s most sensible free-agency locations. — Josh Kendall

The Broncos witnessed the total Justin Fields revel in at Soldier Field in October as he submit giant numbers however made a few crucial errors past due. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

Denver Broncos

Sean Payton noticed Fields at his easiest when the Broncos visited the Bears in Week 4 ultimate season. Fields finished 28 of 35 passes for 335 yards and a career-high 4 touchdowns (a complete he would fit the following week). But in a slender Bears loss, Fields additionally misplaced a fumble that used to be returned for a Broncos landing and threw an interception on Chicago’s ultimate pressure, sealing the defeat.

After voicing frustration with Russell Wilson’s lack of ability to give protection to the soccer all through key stretches ultimate season, I don’t see the Broncos giving up vital draft capital for a quarterback in Fields who, whilst more youthful and extra athletic than Wilson, hasn’t been ready to totally deal with his ball-security problems.

If the Broncos are going to transport draft capital in a deal to procure a quarterback, it’s much more likely to be a transfer for a rookie Payton can mildew in his offense, even supposing that suggests the participant has to take a seat for a season in the back of Jarrett Stidham. — Nick Kosmider

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Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are impossible to pursue Fields as a result of they employed the offensive coordinator who used to be fired after operating with him in Chicago ultimate season.

Luke Getsy used to be decided on through the Raiders on account of his paintings as passing recreation coordinator with the Packers and his run-game ideas with the Bears, because the Raiders made up our minds the largest drawback with the Bears offense the ultimate two seasons used to be the quarterback and no longer the offensive coordinator. Getsy additionally labored with Raiders receiver Davante Adams in Green Bay. — Vic Tafur

New England Patriots

The Patriots are exploring all choices for upgrading their quarterback state of affairs, even supposing the possibly street method the usage of the No. 3 select at the place. But they might be tempted to draft Marvin Harrison Jr., arguably the most productive extensive receiver prospect of the decade. So possibly there’s an issue for buying and selling for Fields and the usage of that prime select on Harrison, straight away upgrading each quarterback and extensive receiver — arguably the 2 largest weaknesses at the roster.

Even if it kind of feels the Pats are much more likely to pursue a quarterback with their 0.33 select, if the ones to-be choices (most probably Maye and Daniels) underwhelm in interviews on the mix, possibly the Patriots would believe parting with their third-round select (No. 68) for Fields. — Chad Graff

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Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have two paths they may be able to take at quarterback: Hope new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can free up one thing in Kenny Pickett the NFL hasn’t observed or search for an improve in other places.

While the Rooney circle of relatives is understood for taking a affected person manner, basic supervisor Omar Khan has completed industry with the Bears sooner than, and Fields could also be probably the most reasonable of the out of doors choices. Fields’ mobility would upload every other wrinkle to the run-heavy scheme Smith is more likely to set up, and the previous Buckeye’s giant arm would exhibit the ability set of underutilized deep danger George Pickens. The quarterback would even be sponsored through what’s projected to be the NFL’s highest-paid protection, so he wouldn’t be requested to be a completed product straight away.

But what’s the fee? If you’re giving up one thing to get him, it’s most definitely prudent to double down through selecting up the estimated $23.3 million fifth-year possibility in May. Beyond that, and possibly most importantly, the Steelers would need to be in a position to punt on Pickett. That’s a large guess for a quarterback the Bears aren’t offered on simply 3 years after giving up 4 choices to get him. — Mike DeFabo

How would a business play out?

Last 12 months, the New York Jets went all in. They traded for Aaron Rodgers.

In 2022, the Broncos driven in all their chips. They bought Russell Wilson.

A crew that’s focused on Fields after which acquires him in a business with the Bears wouldn’t be doing the similar. It might be hedging its bets on the place, no longer only having a bet on Fields.

Fields’ state of affairs additionally appears to be like other from the Panthers’ determined determination to procure Darnold from the Jets in 2021 for a sixth-round select in that draft and second- and fourth-rounders in 2022. The Panthers then assured his fifth-year possibility.

Those 3 trades, regardless that, came about sooner than the draft. That’s vital. Some QB-needy groups will search readability sooner than the unpredictability of the draft. Other groups may well be extra pressured to attend till the draft.

Poles’ plan must be versatile, however handiest to a definite level. The Bears have complimented Fields because the season ended. Poles, trainer Matt Eberflus and president/CEO Kevin Warren have all completed it. But which may be considered as an try to create leverage in business conversations which may be coming their method in Indianapolis.

For all of his bodily presents and glimpses of possible stardom, Fields’ numbers let you know no longer to pick out up his fifth-year possibility for the 2025 season.

Among certified QBs, Fields completed the 2023 season twenty ninth in final touch proportion, twenty third in passing yards in keeping with recreation, twenty second in passer score, twenty fourth in QBR, twenty sixth in adjusted web yards in keeping with strive, thirty first in sack proportion and twenty second in interception price (in line with Pro Football Reference). His numbers on 0.33 downs, within the fourth quarter and in late-game scenarios don’t encourage a lot self assurance, both.

As all the time, extra context is needed. The Bears, as a company, will have to be blamed for his disasters as a lot, if no longer extra, than he’s. But the placement is what it’s. The Bears constructed within the strategy to pivot from Fields if wanted.

Fields, regardless that, may just nonetheless be the most suitable option for different groups after unfastened firm and sooner than the draft. The distinction between the Bears and the ones groups is that they’ve the primary select. The draft nonetheless begins with them.

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(Top photograph: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)