Three Dark Horse Justin Fields Trade Destinations
By Liam McKeone
The Chicago Bears' attention has been turned to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for over a month now and reports are beginning to suggest the franchise has made their decision-- to trade Justin Fields and pick a quarterback first overall. That quarterback will probably be Caleb Williams, although there's plenty of time for them to change their minds on that front. Which means Fields will be on the trade block, and teams are already calling. Per Albert Breer, from Monday:
Such is the case with the Bears and Justin Fields—with the team having gotten a little insight into what his trade value may be. Chicago staffers got inquiries from other teams on Fields in Mobile. And while the Bears haven’t shopped Fields, those conversations did allow the team to start to gauge the 2021 first-rounder’s worth out there on the market.
Then there's the less meaningful but still notable news that Fields and his dog stopped following the Bears on Instagram.
DEVELOPING: Justin Fields’ dog Uno has also unfollowed the Bears on Instagram. As of yet I am unable to confirm whether Uno made this decision himself or if his social media manager made it. Remarkable nonetheless. pic.twitter.com/VB49jMv6Ai
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) February 20, 2024
We're still early enough in the process that nothing is set in stone but it would line up. Fields has shown flashes of greatness but very inconsistently. Whether that's more a product of the tumultuous environment surrounding him (i.e. three different offensive coordinators in three years, one of the NFL's worst offensive lines and receiving cores) or just who he is as a player doesn't really matter. Chicago has to work with the evidence on hand, and that evidence leans more towards trading Fields and getting a younger, cheaper, potentially better QB on a rookie deal for the next five years.
Not much has changed since we last discussed who could trade for Fields if the Bears do decide to move him. The Broncos, Falcons, and Patriots are all still without a quarterback. Those are the obvious and therefore lame choices. But, given how divisive he appears to be as a player, there could be any number of wild card options at play. Thus, we dare to wonder who the dark horse candidates might be.
Here are a few possibilities on that front with a trade growing more imminent with each passing day.