Justin Fields could soon be traded by the Chicago Bears to one of their NFC rival teams.
From the NFL Combine, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda revealed that the Atlanta Falcons and the Bears are getting close to a deal for the starting quarterback.
On Saturday, March 2, Pauline wrote, “Word in Indianapolis is the Chicago Bears are close to finalizing a deal which would send former first-round pick Justin Fields to the Atlanta Falcons.” “It’s unclear if the agreement will be signed off on or even made public before the Combine ends.”
Pauline also mentioned that there might be a clock running on the teams’ negotiations because the Falcons will be keeping an eye on a rival quarterback in the NFC South Division who is a free agent when free agency officially opens on March 13.
“The Falcons will focus on [Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB] Baker Mayfield if he’s available when free agency commences, as I reported on Thursday if they can’t come to terms with the Bears for Fields,” Pauline wrote.
Aside from Fields, the Bears are also affected by Atlanta’s interest in Mayfield. The Falcons’ two other most likely options, outside Mayfield and Fields, are to either sign Minnesota Vikings starting Kirk Cousins in free agency or choose a guy at No. 8 overall or by making a trade up into the top three.
Although Cousins and the Vikings are still in talks, if a contract isn’t reached in the next ten or so days, the six-year starter may leave the NFC North.
Bears’ Justin Fields trade market is robust, but it may get narrower once free agency begins in mid-March.
The Bears don’t have to hurry into a deal, particularly if they aren’t going to obtain the Falcons’ No. 43 overall second-round pick as the main component of the deal.
But in remarks made during the first few days of the Combine, general manager Ryan Poles stated that Fields would be taken out of “the gray” and given a clear picture of his NFL future. A quicker agreement is probably preferable for the Bears as well, since QB dominoes entering free agency may reduce Fields’ market share throughout the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders are still genuine contenders for Fields’ services as of right now. According to Seth Walder of ESPN Analytics, the Cleveland Browns may also become a trade target depending on what transpires in their quarterback room behind starter Deshaun Watson, who has missed 11 games in each of the previous two regular seasons.
Bears Look Like They’ll Select Caleb Williams First Overall in the Draft
The rumor that Chicago and Atlanta are closing in on Fields confirms what most pundits and draft experts have long believed: Caleb Williams, a former USC quarterback, will be the first pick and the Bears’ starting quarterback going forward.
Williams talked to media on Friday at the Combine about the possibility that Chicago will select him first overall.
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Williams stated, “I don’t think that I’m not going to be No. 1.” “I believe that I have given it my all in terms of time, effort, and energy, and I don’t think of a backup plan.” That is essentially how I live my life. When things don’t go as planned, I stick to Plan A and figure out how to make it work. I don’t think of a Plan B.
Williams also gave the Bears fan base assurance this week that he will be “excited” to arrive in Chicago and likely play as the team’s franchise quarterback for years to come, despite all the “noise” about his desire to play elsewhere, specifically with his hometown team the Washington Commanders, who select No. 2 overall.
