The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 general decide within the upcoming NFL Draft, and they are going to use it.
In line with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears are buying and selling quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in trade for a sixth-round decide within the 2025 NFL Draft. That decide may reportedly change into a fourth-round choice relying on Fields’ taking part in time in Pittsburgh.
Russell Wilson, who the Steelers signed this offseason, can be Pittsburgh’s starter and Fields the backup, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported Saturday.
Not lengthy after the commerce was reported, Fields tweeted a farewell observe to the Bears group and fanbase.
Can’t say thanks sufficient to the town of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thanks to the complete Bears group and possession for permitting me the chance to be a part of such a historic franchise. However most of all thanks to my all my brothers that I performed… pic.twitter.com/fT1dORwFU5
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) March 16, 2024
In the meantime, the commerce received an fascinating response from Fields’ main receiver DJ Moore:
It is an offseason of complete upheaval within the Steelers’ QBs room, as each passer from final yr’s 10-7 squad is now on one other workforce. Kenny Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Mitch Trubisky signed with the Buffalo Payments and Mason Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans.
Like Wilson — who required solely the league minimal after getting launched by the Denver Broncos — Fields was an affordable addition for the Steelers. And so long as Wilson is wholesome and competent, it is onerous to see Fields receiving sufficient playing-time to make the Bears’ new draft decide change into a fourth-rounder.
The meager return on Fields within the commerce market displays the poor general displaying for the first-round QB draft class of 2021. Mac Jones, who was chosen No. 15 general by the New England Patriots, received dealt to Jacksonville for a sixth-round decide. The San Francisco removed Trey Lance, the No. 3 general decide, for a fourth-round choice from Dallas. Zach Wilson, that draft’s second general decide, is taking a look at being launched outright by the New York Jets this offseason.
Bears’ Justin Fields period was irritating, to say the least
The Bears buying and selling their beginning quarterback is the clearest sign potential that they plan to make use of their No. 1 general draft decide on a quarterback. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is broadly anticipated to be the primary decide.
A few of the Bears’ determination will be chalked as much as Williams’ expertise and energy as a area marshal, however Fields’ time with the Bears had loads to do with it as nicely. He struggled over two-plus years as a starter, accruing a 10-28 document and breaking 200 yards passing in solely 13 video games.
There isn’t any query Fields was affected by the teaching in Chicago. Head coach Matt Eberflus could not appear to determine what to do with Fields on a weekly foundation, constantly attempting to get Fields to do issues that are not his strengths. Close to the top of the duo’s first season as a head coach/beginning QB duo in 2022, Fields broke out, wanting like a online game character because the Bears allowed him to make use of his legs extra. That late-season surge had followers feeling hopeful and constructive about their beginning QB for the primary time in years.
But in 2023 Eberflus went away from what labored, resulting in widespread frustration. Fields wasn’t almost as cellular as he ought to have been, and it stifled the Bears’ offense. And Fields did not appear to know why it was taking place any greater than followers did. At one level throughout the season, he known as out the teaching workers for being in his ear too usually, giving him info that he did not really feel was useful or that took him additional away from his strengths. Fields stated that in late September, and from then on it grew to become solely extra apparent that Fields and the Bears weren’t an excellent match.
Additionally not serving to was the thumb that brought on Fields to overlook 4 video games in the midst of the season, a stretch that noticed the Bears go 2-2 with undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent beginning.
There have been some constructive moments for the workforce down the stretch, together with victories in opposition to the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, however the Fields query grew to become solely extra pressing. Maintain him and commerce the No. 1 general decide, or commerce him and draft a franchise QB at No. 1 general?
The Bears have chosen door No. 2. They’ve shipped Fields out and can use that No. 1 decide to present their franchise one other new face.