Steelers Receive Trade Proposal from Bears for Justin Fields Worth $7.6 Million.
The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be a potential trade partner for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. If the trade compensation turns out as predicted by Pro Football Focus, Chicago fans may be dissatisfied.
PFF’s Brad Spielberger recently recommended a swap between the Bears and Steelers that would provide Fields with a fresh start in Pittsburgh as one of four moves that might “shake up” the offseason. His proposal follows a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is “a big fan of Justin Fields.”
Spielberger expects the Bears to receive a 2024 second-round pick (52nd overall) and a non-conditional 2025 fifth-round pick from the Steelers in exchange for Fields. “Fields’ elite athleticism adds an entirely different dynamic to a Steelers offence that was quite stale in 2023, and he opens up the downfield passing game that has been lacking,” Spielberger justified in his article, noting that Fields would also have a “legitimate” receiving duo in George Pickens and Diontae Johnson for next season.
The Steelers (-125) are heavily favoured to acquire Fields over the other probable suitors, according to the most recent DraftKings Sportsbook odds from the 2024 Super Bowl. Atlanta (+600) and New England (+650) are the next most likely to trade for him, although Chicago (+200) still has the second best overall odds to keep him in 2024.
If the Bears get many offers for Fields, are the Steelers the best option?
The Bears would undoubtedly profit from acquiring a second-round pick in the 2024 draft. They traded their own second-round pick to Washington for edge rusher Montez Sweat at the trade deadline. As a result, Chicago’s second of two first-round picks (No. 9) is 65 picks away from their third-round pick (No. 75).
Nonetheless, given other forecasts, the Bears’ acquisition of a pick outside the top 50 and a future Day 3 selection with no immediate impact appears to be a low-ball trade.
Before the Super Bowl, Schefter told ESPN Chicago’s ‘Waddle & Silvy’ that he believes the Bears may receive up to a first-round pick in trade for their young quarterback. Even if the Bears compromised for a second-round pick, they may find that otheThe Patriots, for example, are looking for a new quarterback and could trade the No. 35 overall pick for Fields. New England may prefer to wait and utilise their third overall pick to draft a quarterback, but they could potentially use it to target Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. if they trade their second-round pick to Chicago for Fields.
Meanwhile, the Falcons own the No. 43 pick and might add the No. 48 pick if Jacksonville extends Calvin Ridley in the 2024 offseason. If Ridley does not re-sign with the organisation in free agency, the Falcons will receive the Jaguars’ third-round pick (No. 79) instead of their second-round pick under the terms of the 2022 transaction.
Publicly, the Bears have yet to decide what they will do at quarterback in 2024. There is still a chance that the Bears will stick with Fields for the final non-option year of his rookie deal, hoping that their revamped offence under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will help him reach his full potential.
However, according to NFL insiders, a change is on the way.
Longtime Bears insider Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune has provided one of the most recent indicators that the team intends to part ways with Fields. On February 12, he joined 670 The Score’s ‘Mully & Haugh Show’ and reiterated the Bears’ decision to choose a quarterback The next step is to determine which one is best for them.
It’s no longer a question — as I wrote after the Senior Bowl — of whether they’ll draft a quarterback or build around Justin. Biggs stated. “The question now is pretty clear: which quarterback will they draft? “The Fields thing has run its course.”
The Bears do not have a set deadline for dealing Fields, but it stands to reason that they would want to complete a deal before the start of the new league year on March 13. If they wait until after NFL free agency begins, teams with obvious quarterback needs may turn to seasoned options on the open market, such as Kirk Cousins.