Justin Fields’ trade value is a big topic of conversation for the Bears during NFL Combine
There is a perception around the NFL Combine that the Chicago Bears are leaning on drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the draft, and if that happens, general manager Ryan Poles has mentioned he will trade veteran QB Justin Fields. "If we go down that road, I wanna do right by Justin […]
There is a perception around the NFL Combine that the Chicago Bears are leaning on drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the draft, and if that happens, general manager Ryan Poles has mentioned he will trade veteran QB Justin Fields.
"If we go down that road, I wanna do right by Justin as well," Poles said. "No one wants to live in gray. I know that's uncomfortable. I wouldn't wanna be in that situation either. So we'll gather the information. We'll move as quickly as possible, we're not gonna be in a rush. And (we'll) see what presents itself and what's best for the organization."
Following that decision, the big question mark for the Chicago Bears is how much Ryan Poles will get in a trade for Fields. Before the Combine, there were some conversations about using the Sam Darnold trade from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers as a parameter — in 2021, the Jets got a sixth-round pick from that year, plus second- and fourth-round picks from the following draft.
However, talks during NFL Combine aren't leaving a great perception around what the Bears will be able to extract from a potential deal. On Friday's edition of "The Athletic Football Show", NFL insider Dianna Russini said she doesn't think "the market is as robust as a lot of people thought."
"I just don't think that there is a team right now that is going to be aggressively chasing after Justin Fields, knowing that the other free agent quarterbacks that are on the market right now that have had more success, and maybe a better possibility than trading for Justin Fields."
Robert Mays agrees, pointing out that teams wanting a veteran quarterback will probably prioritize free agents like Kirk Cousins. Fields would be, according to Mays, some kind of consolation prize.
"There aren't many teams that are gonna be super motivated to go get him, and does that depress his market compared to what we thought it would be a month ago?"
Contract
Justin Fields is slated to make $3.233 million in 2024, the last year of his rookie deal. However, the team that owns his rights — be it the Bears or an eventual acquiring franchise — will have to make a decision on Fields' fifth-year option by May.
If a team does exercise his option, it would guarantee him $25.664 million in 2025. And if not, he would be slated to hit free agency after just one more season. The alternative for that would be adjusting his contract, just like the Green Bay Packers did with Jordan Love last year, creating a transitional middle ground.
Fields was the 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft by the Bears. Since then, he has had 38 starts in the NFL, with 40 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions, with an 82.3 passer rating. He's also had 2,220 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. The Bears had a 10-28 record in Fields' starts.
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