The Chicago Bears did not get the market they hoped for Justin Fields. After initially hoping that they could get at least a second-rounder and deal Fields quickly, it appears that will not be happening. Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN believe that this could be drawn out as the Bears wait for Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins to decide what occurs.
“They did not find the market they were hoping to find for Fields, so as of now, they’re waiting to see what happens with Cousins, Baker Mayfield and maybe some others, and what kind of market emerges once those situations sort themselves out. The idea that Chicago could get a second-round pick for Fields no longer seems likely,” they wrote.
It appears that most teams do not want to pick up the fifth-year option on Fields, as they are viewing him as a one-year rental alongside players such as Sam Darnold and Drew Lock.
“The message the Bears are getting back from teams is that they don’t consider Fields more of a sure thing than other potential one-year options such as Sam Darnold or Drew Lock, who wouldn’t come with the fifth-year option decision that Fields’ eventual team will have to make by early May,” they wrote.
Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed on the Pat McAfee Show Monday that the market for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields hasn’t been enticing as the Bears thought. Bears general manager Ryan Poles expected a deal would have been wrapped up before free agency, and that hasn’t come to fruition so far.
“I don’t think the market for him is as robust as the Bears and he had thought,” Schefter said. “They talked about hoping to move on from him if they’re comfortable with a quarterback in this draft by the start of free agency.”
Schefter noted that he still expects the Bears to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, which would leave Fields open for a trade. Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright believes a deal won’t be done until closer to the draft in the second wave of free agency.
“If they can find a taker, before the draft. After wave 1 of FA,” Allbright wrote on X after being asked about the timeline for Fields’ trade.
If Fields’ trade market continues to linger, Louis Riddick of ESPN thinks that bodes well for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“If the market’s as soft for Justin Fields as we all believe it is right now, he may fall right into (the Steelers) hands,” Riddick said. “What would be more Pittsburgh Steeler than that? Than for them to wait, stay true to the game as they see it and let it come to them. … I would bet on that happening.”
Former Steelers free safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark wonders if Omar Khan would make a big push for Fields, since Kenny Pickett wasn’t his draft pick.
“Omar Khan is going into his second year as the GM after he takes over for Kevin Colbert, so how does he put his imprint on this team? Kenny Pickett wasn’t his draft pick. Does he see a way to improve if Justin Fields isn’t traded for as the draft is near?” Clark said.
Asked specifically at the NFL Combine about potentially trading for Fields, Khan said that he would not get into specifics about the conversations he’s had around the league. Khan had the same answer when asked if the Steelers have an interest in Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson. Khan is not permitted to discuss players currently under contract to other teams, at any rate.
“I’m not gonna go into details about the conversations that we’ve had,” he said. “But like I mentioned earlier, I can tell you that I have an obligation to look at every avenue that’s out there to make us a better football team.”
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