In March, the Bears initiated the Justin Fields era in Chicago, finalizing his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
An anonymous NFL executive, as reported by The Athletic, expressed the sentiment that the Bears “surrendered” in the trade negotiation process.
They suggested that the Bears may have initially set their asking price too high, but eventually lowered it as they realized the market demand wasn’t as strong as anticipated. The executive questioned the rationale behind the trade, especially considering the potential for increased demand if other teams faced quarterback injuries or failed to acquire their desired quarterbacks during the offseason.
Indeed, the return the Bears received for Fields fell short of expectations. Initially, reports indicated the Bears were aiming for a second-round pick, or at least a Day 2 pick, in exchange for Fields.
However, the Bears didn’t compromise their trade value without reason. According to recent reports from ESPN, the Bears received “at least one better offer” for Fields from a team with an established starting quarterback.
In Fields’ case, the Bears prioritized placing him in an advantageous situation. During the NFL Scouting Combine, Bears general manager Ryan Poles stated their intention to “do right by” Fields in the event of a trade, emphasizing the importance of ensuring his well-being.
This involved several considerations. First, it meant executing the trade swiftly, ideally before the start of NFL free agency on March 13. Second, it entailed accommodating Fields’ preferences regarding his destination team.
In this regard, the Bears met these objectives by trading Fields to the Steelers on March 16, one of the teams on his preferred list, which also included the Vikings, Falcons, and Raiders.
The presence of high-profile free-agent quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, and Russell Wilson influenced the market dynamics for Fields. Cousins and Wilson occupied starting quarterback positions on Fields’ preferred list with the Falcons and Steelers, respectively.
Overall, the focus of the trade was on prioritizing Fields’ interests. Although the Bears could have waited until after the draft or even into training camp to explore potential trade opportunities, they opted to facilitate Fields’ transition to a new team of his choice in a timely manner. By doing so, they provided him with ample time to prepare for the upcoming season. Moreover, trading him to the Steelers offered Fields an opportunity to compete for the starting role, either by surpassing Wilson or in the event of the team’s decision not to re-sign him after his one-year deal.
In conclusion, while some may characterize the Bears’ approach as being “bullied” in the trade market, it appears their primary concern was ensuring the best outcome for Fields, particularly given the prospect of drafting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick had Fields remained in Chicago.
