The Justin Fields trade market: Which teams might be interested and what could the Bears get?

A year ago, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles announced at the NFL Scouting Combine that his team was open for business: the first pick in the 2023 draft was available.

“We need a lot, and that (first choice) gives us more chances to sign more players,” Poles said at the time. “It's a good situation for where our club is now.”

The combination then became an intelligence gathering mission for Poles and the Bears. They had to do their due diligence on the quarterback class, including interviews with Bryce Young, CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson.

But the Poles also needed to leave Indianapolis with an accurate view of the trade market for the top pick — and he got it. A few days after the combine ended, the Bears traded the top pick to the Carolina Panthers.

The goals for Poland in this year's competition should be similar. The Bears will face top quarterbacks: USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels, Michigan's JJ McCarthy and possibly others.

And then the Poles will also have trading markets that they can experiment with through his conversations with other General Managers. Just like last year, one market could be the first choice. Another could be for current starter Justin Fields.

What is the biggest risk for Poland and the Bears? Does it remain with a quarterback who has the belief of his teammates but still ranks in the bottom third in the league in many statistical areas? Or does it pass on the top QBs in the draft for the second year in a row?

Which teams could be interested in Fields?

According to NFL.com, 66 quarterbacks started for teams during the 2023 season. That's a lot. But two more started for teams during the 2022 season. That's wild.

Teams are always looking for quarterbacks – and some won't be able to find answers in free agency or the draft. Unlike other teams, the Bears have a certainty with the first pick.

There were 12 quarterbacks included in Randy Mueller's rankings of the top 150 free agents for The Athletics. Only two of them – Kirk Cousins ​​of the Minnesota Vikings and Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – made the top 20. San Francisco 49ers backup Sam Darnold was next at No. 98.

The trading market comes next. Teams will be looking for security at the most important position in the sport heading into the draft. There could be a competitive market for Fields.

With help of The Athletics's beat writers, here are five potential trade partners to consider as the NFL world descends on Indianapolis next week.

Atlanta Falcons

New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson didn't give much away when talking about what the team wants in its next quarterback.

“Whether it's a pocket guy, whether it's a guy who can move a little bit, we're just going to look for the best guy,” Robinson said.

However, the fact that Robinson has spent his entire career under Rams coach Sean McVay in Los Angeles suggests he is looking for a Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford type. However, Fields' big arm will appeal to Robinson. Robinson said the first thing he looks for is “how someone throws the football and what that looks like.”

Whether the Falcons pursue Fields may simply come down to options. They don't have a clear path to their next quarterback, as they are the eighth pick in the first round, and Atlanta isn't one of the league's top destinations for free agency. — Josh Kendal

Denver Broncos

Sean Payton saw Fields at his best when the Broncos visited the Bears in Week 4 last season. Fields completed 28 of 35 passes for 335 yards and a career-high four touchdowns (a total he would match the following week). But in a narrow Bears loss, Fields also lost a fumble that was returned for a Broncos touchdown and threw an interception on Chicago's final drive, sealing the defeat.

After expressing frustration over Russell Wilson's inability to protect the football during key stretches of last season, I don't see the Broncos giving up significant draft capital for a quarterback in Fields who, while younger and more athletic than Wilson, isn't in it managed to fully address his ball security issues.

If the Broncos are going to move draft capital in a deal to acquire a quarterback, it's more likely to be a move for a rookie. Payton can fit his offense, even if it means sitting behind Jarrett Stidham for a season. . — Nick Kosmider

Las Vegas Raiders

It's highly unlikely the Raiders will pursue Fields because they hired the offensive coordinator who was fired after working with him in Chicago last season.

Luke Getsy was selected by the Raiders for his work as a passing game coordinator with the Packers and his run-game concepts with the Bears, as the Raiders decided that the biggest problem with the Bears offense over the past two seasons was the quarterback and not the offensive. coordinator. Getsy also worked with Raiders receiver Davante Adams in Green Bay. — Vic Tafur

New England Patriots

The Patriots are exploring all options to improve their quarterback situation, even if the most likely option means using the No. 3 pick at the position. But they might be tempted to sign Marvin Harrison Jr. to appoint, perhaps the best wide receiver of the past decade. So maybe there's an argument for trading for Fields and using that top pick on Harrison, immediately upgrading both the quarterback and wide receiver — perhaps the two biggest weaknesses on the roster.

Even if it appears the Pats are more likely to pursue a quarterback with their third pick, if those future picks (likely Maye and Daniels) disappoint in interviews at the combine, the Patriots might consider parting with their third-round pick ( No. 68) for fields. — Chad Graff

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have two paths they can take at quarterback: hope new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can unlock something in Kenny Pickett that the NFL hasn't seen yet, or look elsewhere for an upgrade.

While the Rooney family is known for its patient approach, general manager Omar Khan has done business with the Bears before, and Fields is perhaps the most realistic of the outside options. Fields' mobility would add another wrinkle to the run-heavy scheme Smith is likely to install, and the former Buckeye's big arm would showcase the skills of George Pickens' underutilized deep threat. The quarterback would also be backed by what is expected to be the NFL's highest-paid defense, so he wouldn't immediately be asked to be a finished product.

But what is the price? If you're giving up something to get him, it's probably wise to double down by picking up the estimated $23.3 million fifth-year option in May. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the Steelers should be ready to take on Pickett. That's a big gamble for a quarterback the Bears aren't sold on just three years after giving up four picks to get him. — Mike DeFabo

How would a transaction proceed?

Last year the New York Jets went all-in. They traded for Aaron Rodgers.

In 2022, the Broncos put all their chips in. They acquired Russell Wilson.

A team interested in Fields and then acquiring him in a trade with the Bears wouldn't do the same. It could be hedging his bets on the position, and not just betting on Fields.

Fields' situation also looks different than the Panthers' desperate decision to acquire Darnold from the Jets in 2021 for a sixth-round pick in that draft and second- and fourth-rounders in 2022. The Panthers then guaranteed his fifth-year option.

However, these three transactions occurred before the draft. This is important. Some QB-needy teams will seek clarity due to the unpredictability of the draft. Other teams may be more compelled to wait until the draft.

The Polish plan will have to be flexible, but only to a certain extent. The Bears have complimented Fields since the end of the season. Poland, coach Matt Eberflus and president/CEO Kevin Warren have all done it. But that could be seen as an attempt to create leverage in trade talks that could come their way in Indianapolis.

For all his physical gifts and glimpses of potential stardom, Fields' numbers tell you not to pick his fifth-year option for the 2025 season.

Among qualified QBs, Fields finished the 2023 season ranked 29th in completion percentage, 23rd in passing yards per game, 22nd in passer rating, 24th in QBR, 26th in adjusted net yards per attempt, 31st in sack percentage and 22nd in interception percentage (per Professional Football Reference ). His numbers on third downs, in the fourth quarter and in late-game situations don't inspire much confidence either.

As always, more context is needed. The Bears as an organization should be blamed for his failures as much, if not more, than he is. But the situation is what it is. The Bears have built in the ability to pivot from fields if necessary.

However, Fields may still be the best option for other teams after free agency and before the draft. The difference between the Bears and those teams is that they have the first pick. The design still starts with them.

(Top photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)