Why Justin Fields Should Be A Trade Target For This Desperate NFC Team
General Manager Ryan Poles is faced with a daunting task in his second year as the Chicago Bears GM. Poles and the Bears currently have the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which is full of rookie quarterbacks worthy of being selected early. The only problem is that the Bears already have a young and talented quarterback in Justin Fields.
This gives Poles three options: stick with the first pick, trade back from the first pick, or trade away their current franchise quarterback to draft a rookie quarterback. Here’s why I think the third option should be intensively explored, and why one team, in particular, should make the call.
Fields May Not Want To Stay In Chicago
Now I am sure that Fields is grateful for the opportunity to be Chicago’s franchise QB, but if he feels the team is not 100% sold on him, who can blame him for wanting to shine somewhere his talents are appreciated? Plus, recent comments by Fields seem to indicate he wouldn’t mind playing elsewhere. He says he loves Chicago, but a lot of the time the wind is unbearable for him. He also wants to play in a stadium with a dome. That begs the question: who would trade for Fields for him to be their franchise QB?
Update: #Bears QB Justin Fields is not a fan of the cold weather in Chicago, via @PardonMyTake “It is very difficult to adjust to it, especially with the wind. I hope we get a dome.” pic.twitter.com/tccprwJrW4 — JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 17, 2023
Several franchises are hungry for a franchise QB, including Houston, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Las Vegas, the Jets, and Washington. The Texans and Colts are both primed to get a top three QB in this draft, leaving the Falcons, Raiders, Jets, and Commanders. The Commanders seem comfortable in the ability of Sam Howell to produce with his starting opportunity, and it seems like the Jets and Raiders are waiting on Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Garoppolo. The Jets have also become front runners for Derek Carr. This leaves the Falcons. Would the state of Georgia welcome Fields back home?
If only there was a team that plays in a warm city and has a dome that is also hungry (almost desperate) for a young QB to bring flash to their town and team. A lot of teams will have some sort of solution at QB this year; the Falcons will not want to miss out on getting one themselves. Plus, it will surround Fields with the talents of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and their skilled running back group.
Justin Fields did not think he was going to be drafted by the #Bears in the draft. He thought he might land with the #Panthers possibly the #Falcons or even the #Broncos. Said it really would’ve been cool to be a Falcon since it’s his home state. Via @PardonMyTake — Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) February 15, 2023
There have been many new faces in Chicago over the past two seasons, with Fields and Poles included, so I doubt there is any unbreakable attachment to this city. The Bears possibly “doing homework” on the 2023 Draft QBs could be the last push Fields needed to be able to express his desire to play somewhere else…preferably somewhere not as cold and windy as Chicago.
Bryce and C.J. Are Capable Talents
I’ve already gone over why it makes sense for the parties of Fields and a team like Atlanta to want to do this move, but what makes Chicago approve of the trade? While it is true that Fields has already shown a glimpse of what he can do on the NFL stage, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are worthy of a shot at becoming franchise QBs as well. Being able to have a younger and still talented QB, plus additional assets to build around is a luxury that any GM would ask for. That seemed to be their plan already.
Many, like myself, have already accepted the most likely scenario of Chicago trading back from the number one pick to a team like the Colts, then surrounding Fields with additional assets as well. After all, the Bears will need more than just the number one overall pick to make them a potential contending team. This was the most likely scenario until the possibility of the Bears moving Fields started rising, with his latest comments adding further speculation.
More than one NFL general manager came away from the Senior Bowl fairly convinced that Justin Fields will be dealt — Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) February 15, 2023
If the Bears do decide to move from Fields, who’s to say they won’t allow him the opportunity to be moved to where he prefers after what he’s put on the line for the city of Chicago already? That would be a way that Poles could make all parties happy. It will certainly be interesting to see how he decides to go about this.