Justin Fields trade rumors: Where could the Chicago Bears’ QB end up?
With NFL free agency now in full swing, we’ve already seen some big moves in the starting quarterback department, but there is one name that’s still on the table.
Given the Draft collateral that the Bears now have and the apparent misfit that has occurred with the team’s starting quarterback, it stands to reason that the team is now said to be looking to move on. With that, the focus switches to which team is in the market for a new starting signal caller.
Washington Commanders in for Justin Fields?
Having secured the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the fact that recent reports suggest that Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is heading out the door is not entirely surprising. To that end, it makes sense that a number of teams have been linked with the young talent. Yet, there is one team in particular that seems to fit the bill and that’s the Washington Commanders. As rumors tell it, the team is on the hunt for a replacement for last season’s starter, Sam Howell. With Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins having been snapped up by the Atlanta Falcons, that doesn’t leave many starters in the market.
With that in mind, the Commanders are faced with two realistic options: Select a quarterback in the coming Draft or make a move for Fields. Where the Bears are concerned, they don’t exactly have a position of power i.e., it’s no secret in the league that the franchise intends to draft the projected No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams. That, as you can imagine, has decreased leverage. This brings us back to Fields himself who was projected to be the focal point of a bidding war involving multiple teams. Yet, the team that was most consistently tied to him is the same one that just forked out a whole lot to sign Cousins.
So, where does that leave the 25-year-old? Realistically, with the above-mentioned loss of leverage as context, Fields is not going to illicit anything beyond a third-round pick in exchange for his services. Why is that? Simply, aside from the Commanders who have given no official word that they intend to acquire Fields, the only other teams that are potentially in the market for a new quarterback are the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos. Where their respective Draft positions are concerned, neither will be able to select high this year. As for the Commanders, the team does in fact hold the No. 2 overall pick, which might tempt you into thinking that a move for Fields is unlikely. On the other hand, a quarterback of his age and stage can’t be ignored, and even more so if you can get him on the cheap and then use your Draft capital to provide him with a top-tier teammate. Keep an eye on this one, as it’s likely to get more interesting.