JUST IN: Chicago Bears Exchange Justin Fields In A Brutal Trade Proposal For A First-Round Pick

Over the previous ten years, the Chicago Bears have experienced frustration that has only now begun to give rise to a glimmer of hope that the Illinois team could be able to achieve sustained success in the National Football League.

A Brand-New QB En Its To Chicago?

With Chicago’s draft pick ranking in the top 10 this year, the Bears are well-positioned to select their franchise quarterback and bolster their rapidly improving roster. The Bears traded away the first overall pick in 2023, only to eventually receive the first overall pick again in 2024 from the trade package.

Furthermore, it is likely that Caleb Williams, the prospect who is expected to be selected first overall, will join the Chicago Bears in May, despite early indications that he was reluctant to play for the team.

What Does Justin Fields’ Future Hold?

The only minor concern remaining is that Justin Fields, the current quarterback for the Chicago Bears and the team’s former 11th overall choice, showed progress throughout the second half of the season along with the rest of the squad.

Despite his amazing 657 yards rushing, 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions, Fields’ season-long performance was still far from stellar, with just 2,562 throwing yards and an 86.3 passer rating. Despite GM Ryan Poles placing a high value on Fields’ development in the passing game before the season, the Bears finished 27th in passing yards.

According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Alex Shapiro, Fields may need to look for fresh pastures in order to get the chance to start for an NFL team once more, something that many still think he is capable of doing. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the most recent team that Fields may choose to play for.

Justin Fields is being traded by the Chicago Bears to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In his most recent mock deal, he predicts that Tampa Bay might acquire Justin Fields from Chicago, taking Baker Mayfield’s place as the new Pro Bowl MVP. In this case, the following would be given to both teams:

Chicago Bears: 2023 NFL Draft, 26th overall selection

Fourth-round (2023) NFL Draft pick Justin Fields, 122nd overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Shapiro provides the following justification for why the Bucs would be eager to sign Fields rather than Baker Mayfield, the finalist for Comeback Player of the Year:

With Baker Mayfield, the Bucs outperformed expectations in 2023, which increased Mayfield’s worth in 2024. In this mock draft scenario, though, the Bucs would choose to deal for Fields and pay a more dynamic quarterback. To sweeten the pot, the Bears gave Tampa Bay a fourth-round pick.

Shapiro’s logic is not wholly incorrect: Baker has earned a contract that will most likely be worth between $30 and $35 million at the absolute most, and maybe even more, like the ones Geno Smith and Daniel Jones signed at this time last year.

Nonetheless, Fields still has two years left on his rookie contract if the team he plays for in the summer chooses to exercise his fifth-year option, which is expected to be fully guaranteed at roughly $22 million and still significantly less than Mayfield’s potential future contract.

Justin Fields or Baker Mayfield?

Therefore, the Bucs may decide to go with upside and potential over a potentially limited ceiling with Mayfield if the option is still an up-and-down quarterback who is owed a large-ish contract after a good year, or a quarterback with two discounted years remaining who has shown upside despite being surrounded by a dysfunctional organization, a poor pass-protecting offensive line (ranked 26th in adjusted sack rate DVOA), and a poor scheme fit with Luke Getsy.

That does raise the question, though: is Fields truly deserving of a first-round selection? Perhaps a late second. Of course, a third to take a chance. However, it’s not worth giving up your number one selection in the draft for a largely inexperienced, unreliable quarterback, especially when you’re losing out on a player who has demonstrated they can perform well under pressure—as evidenced by the Bucs’ crushing of the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC champions, last season.

It will be intriguing to see how this story ends in the end—whether Chicago trades Fields, how much they are paid for him, and which team will be prepared to give up some decent draft money to acquire him.