Things haven’t unfolded as the Chicago Bears had hoped regarding the Justin Fields situation. Initially, everyone thought the team would have a sizable trade market for the young quarterback. However, circumstances out of their control have made that less likely. Three notable veterans are either on the market or are about to be. Russell Wilson was released by the Denver Broncos this past week. Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield are scheduled to be free agents next week. Almost every team needing a quarterback has put their focus on them, pushing Fields to the background.
Atlanta? Pittsburgh? Las Vegas? None of them seem inclined to make a deal at this point, leaving GM Ryan Poles in a tough position. It appears he has two courses of action ahead of him. Either he hangs onto Fields beyond the start of free agency, hoping the market improves, or he lowers the asking price. However, there is another alternative. One team out there seems on the precipice of being desperate. There is only one problem.
That team is their division rival Minnesota Vikings. Poles has never traded inside the division before. The amount of risks involved in sending Fields to a team with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison is difficult to calculate. Yet it feels like they are also the only team that may offer a solid return.
Justin Fields to the Vikings is a long shot, but not impossible.
Minnesota’s GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, already has a reputation for making deals inside the NFC North. In 2022, he swung three such trades, two with the Lions and one with the Packers. They were just minor ones, either. One trade was for Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson. Another was allowing Detroit to move up in the 1st round for wide receiver Jameson Williams. So we know Adofo-Mensah isn’t afraid to make big deals inside the division if he feels it benefits his team. That is why you cannot discount the idea Minnesota is interested in Fields.
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Remember, they are in a tricky spot. Cousins could leave in free agency next week. Minnesota picks 11th overall in the draft, putting them outside the optimal range for a top quarterback. Trading for Justin Fields would actually be less expensive than trying to move up into the top 10. All of this comes down to Poles. He has never made a trade inside the division. It never happened during his long stint in Kansas City too. This doesn’t sound like something he’d be open to unless the Vikings came forward with a strong offer.
That feels unlikely, but desperation often leads to crazy things.
