Justin Fields Rumors: 'No Inclination' Bears Won't Trade QB and Draft Caleb Williams | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
William Burgess Despite several of the potential destinations seemingly drying up, the Chicago Bears are reportedly still considered likely to trade quarterback Justin Fields this offseason.
According to ESPN's Field Yates, there is "no inclination" that the Bears intend to keep Fields, and all signs point toward them trading him and using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on a quarterback—likely USC's Caleb Williams.
At the start of the offseason, it was widely assumed that the Bears would be able to move Fields for compensation as high as a second-round pick, especially since there appeared to be several teams with a major need at quarterback.
However, now that the Bears have waited as long as they have, most of the teams have filled their needs through free agency.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to compete with Aidan O'Connell, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson to compete with Kenny Pickett, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed Baker Mayfield, the Atlanta Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a huge contract and the Minnesota Vikings signed Sam Darnold to potentially replace Cousins.
The Washington Commanders and New England Patriots both need quarterback help, but they are picking second and third overall in the draft, and they are strong bets to take the other top signal-callers on the board in LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye.
If it plays out that way, it can be argued that the only NFL teams that would be willing to acquire Fields to be their starter in 2024 would be the Vikings or Denver Broncos.
The Vikings and Broncos are picking 11th and 12th overall, respectively, in the draft, so while it is unlikely that they could stand pat and land Daniels or Maye, they could attempt to trade up, or they could target Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who is looking like a surefire first-round pick as well.
It is fair to wonder if the Bears would be willing to trade Fields to the Vikings, a divisional rival, because of the possibility of Fields developing into a star and regularly coming back to haunt them.
That means Denver could be the only place where Fields has a chance to play extensively next season.
The Broncos released Wilson this offseason and have not replaced him, leaving Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci as the only quarterbacks on their roster.
Fields, who was the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft, would undoubtedly be their best option under center if they were to trade for him.
While Fields still has a lot of growing to do as a passer, he rushed for 1,143 yards in 2022, and he made strides throwing the ball last season, setting career marks in completion percentage (61.4 percent) and passing yards (2,562), while also throwing 16 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 13 games.
Unfortunately for the Bears, the Broncos likely know they have leverage in trade negotiations since there may not be many suitors left, so Chicago could have to settle for a lesser return than it initially wanted.