Ask most Chicago Bears fans the question and they will give the same answer. No, they do not think Justin Fields will be traded. It goes against the logic of the team’s situation. The 24-year-old quarterback took big strides forward in 2022, becoming one of the most dangerous runners in the NFL. Yes, his passing improvement wasn’t anything special. Even so, it was enough to suggest that an improved roster around him and more time in the same offense could yield even better results next season.
Throwing that away to start over with an unproven rookie feels unnecessarily risky. Yet that is what several experts, including former GMs, are calling for. They feel Bryce Young is a more proven quarterback in the traditional sense. He has the passing capability needed to take a team on a deep playoff run. His success at Alabama speaks for itself. That is why the Bears should think about trading Fields while his value is still high. He’s young, talented, and has two years left on his cheap rookie contract.
The obvious question is which teams might make a run at him if made available. Adam Thompson of Bookies.com puts together some NFL futures odds on that. His conclusions were eye-opening.
Justin Fields to Tampa Bay would make lots of sense.
The Buccaneers have reached a difficult crossroads. They have a roster that can still compete for the playoffs, but their quarterback situation took a nosedive with the retirement of Tom Brady. Now their best option on the roster is the completely untested Kyle Trask. Unless they can find a viable alternative, they might be forced to start a rebuild. Trading for Fields would be one option that makes sense. It gives them a young QB with experience to keep building around. He’d have ready-made weapons like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. New offensive coordinator Dave Canales worked with Russell Wilson and Geno Smith in Seattle, so he’s familiar with that type of quarterback.
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Justin Fields might also like it since he’d be able to play in warmer climates. The idea comes down to compensation. Tampa Bay holds the 19th pick in the 1st round, so they might not be too averse to offering that and maybe a Day 2 pick in 2024. Chicago would add to their draft coffers and have the green light to take whichever QB they want at #1. It is a logical idea. One that isn’t likely to become real. The Bears are more inclined to trade the #1 pick, move down, and work to build around Fields instead.
