For the second year in a row, the Chicago Bears have the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. This time around, the Bears have a chance to add a prospect who some NFL scouts view as the best quarterback prospect since Trevor Lawrence. But where does that leave Justin Fields?
The 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is entering the final year of his contract, and has a reasonable salary of $6 million for 2024. Yet, if the Bears plan on drafting Caleb Williams or another QB, then Chicago may be better off trading Fields for the best offer available.
Obviously Fields has to be looked at as more than just a QB, he’s also one of the most dangerous runners in football, and finished seventh in rushing yards in 2022. But what would NFL teams give up for a soon-to-be 25-year-old dual-threat quarterback who has completed just 60.3% of his passes across 38 starts?
Related: Where does Justin Fields rank among starting QBs?
Justin Fields trade value offers hope for Chicago Bears
Every year, new teams realize they don’t have a franchise quarterback on the roster. The Chicago Bears may very well be in that mindset right now while believing Caleb Williams could offer a higher ceiling.
If so, it’s likely only a matter of time before the Justin Fields trade timeline begins. But what everyone wants to know is how much the Bears may be able to get for the former first-round pick. Meanwhile, teams in need of a spark are also curious about what a player who was once viewed as a potential superstar could be had for.
Related: Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft picks
On Saturday, The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler chimed in, saying he expects Fields to be traded for “two Day 2 picks.” As to when? He also suggested a Fields trade timeline to pick up around the start of the NFL Draft Combine on February 26, when general managers often discuss offseason moves. However, Brugler also noted that the actual Fields trade may not happen until closer to the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25.
If the Bears do end up adding a pair of picks in either the second or third rounds as Brugler suspects, it would only help build a stronger roster around their new quarterback.
