Why the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Steelers, what's next

One of the big questions of the 2024 NFL free agency period was answered Saturday when the Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick that becomes a pick. fourth round if Fields plays 51% of Pittsburgh. will fit in 2024, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The move ends the former first-round pick's tenure with the Bears after three seasons, all but confirming that Chicago will draft a quarterback, likely USC's Caleb Williams, No. 1 overall on April 25.

Fields joins a Steelers team that has made numerous quarterback-related headlines in recent weeks, notably the acquisition of nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson and the trade of former first-rounder Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin and Brooke Pryor provide insight into the Fields trade from the Bears' and Steelers' perspectives, including what's next for both franchises at quarterback.

Does this remove any doubt that the Bears will draft Caleb Williams?

Cronin: The Bears are in the process of finalizing their evaluation of Williams and the other top quarterbacks in the draft, and will make a decision in the coming weeks. A sizable contingent of the Bears front office and coaching staff will be on hand for USC's pro day on March 20. The team will then host Williams on a Top 30 visit to learn more about him as a person.

All signs point to Williams being the top pick. Chicago will also formulate their contingency plan to potentially trade a pick or two if their evaluation leads them to a prospect other than Williams.

Will Fields have a chance to win the starting job in 2024, or is he a long-term play for the Steelers?

Prior: This is a long-term play. Wilson is the team's starting quarterback, a team source told me. Fields is expected to join him in Pittsburgh to learn under a player who has been selected to nine Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl. But of course, 66 quarterbacks started an NFL game last season, so just because Fields isn't expected to start Week 1 doesn't mean he won't see the field at some point. By adding Fields for a 2025 sixth-round pick, which becomes a fourth if Fields plays more than 51% of the snaps in 2024, behind Wilson, who signed a one-year deal for the league minimum , the Steelers are addressing short-term and long-term needs at quarterback without giving up significant cap space or draft capital.

Why didn't it work out for Fields in Chicago?

Cronin: Despite his potential, Fields never definitively answered the question of whether he could become the Bears' franchise quarterback. His mobility was among the best in the league among quarterbacks, but a hit against him prevented him from holding the ball for long, often leading to him being among the most sacked quarterbacks in the league. the NFL. Fields (3.18) and Russell Wilson (3.02) averaged the longest and third-longest throwing times over the past three years, respectively, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Fields is entering his fourth season, and Chicago's ability to start the clock over by drafting a quarterback next month is huge. Had the Bears held firm on Fields, they would have had to exercise his $25.7 million fifth-year option by May 2 and start thinking about a costly extension in the near future.

As the first wave of free agency comes to a close, the Bears' roster includes new additions such as wide receiver Keenan Allen, running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett, along with returning veterans DJ Moore , Cole Kmet and an improved offensive line. Defensively, the Bears are in a good place with players like Jaylon Johnson, Montez Sweat and Tremaine Edmunds. The Bears believe they are ready to compete and want to move toward a quarterback who will be the reason they win games.

And since Williams was considered a generational talent, the Bears felt it was the right time to move on from Fields.

How do Fields' skills translate to Arthur Smith's offense in Pittsburgh?

Prior: Fields' greatest strength is his mobility (he was the NFL's most prolific player last season with 1,359 yards on 153 plays) but he also, like Wilson, has the skills to be a solid play-action quarterback. . He completed 56 of 90 attempts for 718 yards with three touchdowns and zero offside interceptions last season.

One of Smith's top priorities is establishing a balanced offense through a strong running game anchored by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and Fields' deep ball prowess can go a long way toward achieving that. In 2023, Fields threw seven touchdown passes targeting pass routes, tied for fourth in the NFL, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, something Steelers wide receivers like George Pickens will appreciate. Although, like Wilson, Fields suffered a lot of sacks in the last two seasons. Wilson (100) and Fields (99) have been sacked more than any other QB since the start of 2022. No other QB has been sacked 80 times in that span, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

What made the Bears decide this was the best offer they could receive?

Cronin: The Bears were hoping to land a Day 2 pick in the 2024 draft along with a 2025 pick that had the potential to escalate ahead of the combine in Indianapolis in late February, a source with knowledge of the Bears' plans told ESPN. equipment. The parameters of the trade that sent former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers — a 2021 sixth-round pick plus second- and fourth-round picks in 2022 — were what Chicago hoped to model for its Fields exchange. But as potential destinations quickly fell off the board with Russell Wilson signing with Pittsburgh, Kirk Cousins ​​with Atlanta and Baker Mayfield staying in Tampa, the Bears had to adjust the type of return they expected to receive.

A source told ESPN that five teams besides Pittsburgh approached Chicago, and most of those teams had envisioned the former first-round pick in a reserve role. Additionally, the Steelers had been in talks with the Bears during free agency week and reached out after sending Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. The Bears had an additional offer with stronger draft capital from a team with an established starter, according to a source, but opted to send Fields to Pittsburgh in hopes of putting the 25-year-old in position to continue his development. , first. as Wilson's backup and eventually as a starter.

In Indianapolis, Poles said he wanted to “do the right thing” with Fields, which included not keeping him on a team with a rookie and finding a place where he could continue to develop. In Pittsburgh, Fields will have that opportunity.