Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has played well in recent weeks, but he’s still one of the most popular trade candidates in the league. Most teams don’t part ways with a young passer who has shown as much promise as Fields, but most teams don’t have the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers sent their first-round pick to the Chicago Bears last year, and it’s all-but inevitable that this pick will turn into the first-overall selection.
While a lot could happen between now and the NFL Draft, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are both considered to be two of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory. Both players are better prospects than Fields was when he declared for the draft, and they’ll be on rookie contracts. Even though Justin Fields is one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the league, it’s easy to see why the Bears would trade him, especially when you consider that this team will probably have a new head coach next year.
For what it’s worth, Justin Fields also seems to be aware that a trade could happen. Prior to Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Bears quarterback said that he “gave Chicago [his] all” and spoke as if his trade is a foregone conclusion. So, if Fields is on the way out, which teams are likely to acquire him?
BREAKING: #Bears Justin Fields tells fans “I gave Chicago my all” and hints of his departure from Chicago after this season. 🤯🤯🤯
The Bears currently hold the first overall pick and are expected to select Caleb Williams. 👀
Where will Fields play in 2024? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/EpW3dV4342
— NFC North News (@NFCNorthNewss) December 22, 2023
When talking about a Justin Fields trade, you need to consider more than just the talent of the quarterback. Generally speaking, teams prefer to invest in rookies rather than veterans, so we need to identify teams with poor quarterback situations that also probably won’t have the chance to grab their franchise savior early in the NFL Draft. With that in mind, these five teams are the most likely suitors for Fields.
5 Teams That Should Trade For Justin Fields
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have the pieces to be competitive sooner rather than later. However, the quarterback is the most important position in the game, and the duo of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke have singlehandedly sunk this roster. A Justin Fields trade would make sense not only because he’s superior to those two, but also because his skillset is a perfect match for this offense. Bijan Robinson would be near-unstoppable with the rushing lanes provided by Fields’ mobility, and Drake London’s ability to make plays downfield would pair well with Fields’ rocket arm.
Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to admit that Kenny Pickett is not the answer. While his preseason was fun, his regular season was nothing short of a disaster and the team needs to move on if they want to get back to competing for Super Bowls. This roster is too talented to tank, so acquiring Justin Fields via trade is probably their only way of getting a quarterback with high upside. There are plenty of pieces here, and Mike Tomlin should be able to get more out of Fields than Matt Eberflus could.
New Orleans Saints
Financially speaking, the New Orleans Saints are stuck with Derek Carr and his contract for at least one more season. However, just because he’s on the roster doesn’t mean that the team has to start him next year. Josh McDaniels was right to part ways with Carr, and the Saints need to accept that he’s never getting back to his 2016-2021 level of play. The NFC South should be weak again in 2024, and a Justin Fields trade might be enough for this team to go back to the playoffs.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots messed up by beating the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve, as they are no longer in a position to get Drake Maye. This means that the best quarterback they can draft is probably Jayden Daniels, and if the team prefers Justin Fields, they could trade their second-round pick to get him. The Patriots have a great defense and Bill Belichick has shown a willingness to work with mobile quarterbacks in the past, so Fields could work out in this environment.
Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson had a nice bounce-back season in 2023, but it’s pretty clear that he and Sean Payton do not see eye to eye. If Payton wants to start over with a younger quarterback, then he could easily trade for Justin Fields. Fields might not be the ideal fit for Payton’s preferred quick-passing style of play, but if he can adjust his scheme for Fields’ innate playmaking ability, then this could be a good matchup.
Main Photo: Matt Marton – USA Today Sports
