After a protracted trade saga that resulted in numerous NFL trade rumors and diminished value for the Chicago Bears team, the quarterback Justin Fields was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. In addition to already being under fire for the return they got, the Bears apparently declined a greater offer.
When the offseason first began, Fields appeared to be among the top quarterbacks available. Despite the general belief that NFL teams prefer Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins as starting quarterbacks, the former first-round pick was still seen as a good fit for a number of teams in need of a quarterback.
It was always assumed that the asking price for Fields would begin with a second-round pick, but there have been rumors that the Bears were hoping to get even more. Apparently, Chicago paid a price for that assessment and a drawn-out procedure.
The Bears were hoping for a Day 2 pick and a 2025 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. The asking price was predicated on outbidding the Carolina Panthers’ return a few years prior, which included second- and fourth-round picks for Darnold along with a sixth-round pick.
The trade value of Fields was reportedly enquired about by six NFL teams from the Bears front office. Interestingly, most of those teams thought of the former Ohio State standout as a backup quarterback for the 2024 campaign. Unfortunately for Chicago, Fields’ market was destroyed by its high asking price and a competitive quarterback market.
Most significantly, according to Cronin, Fields’ best trade offer was passed up by the Bears. Although there was a higher offer from an unnamed team, general manager Ryan Poles stated that the trade of Justin to Pittsburgh was “what is best for both Justin and the Bears.”
Although the Bears had expressed from the start that they wanted to treat Fields fairly, the drawn-out process and an asking price that NFL teams felt was too high ultimately proved costly. Fields’ chance to contend for a starting position in training camp this summer with his new team was probably eliminated, and Chicago lost out on a big opportunity.
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