Justin Fields Rumors: QB Eyed Steelers; Asked Bears Not to Trade Him to Certain Teams – Bleacher Report
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Quarterback Justin Fields wanted to be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In fact, Fields’ representation asked for the Chicago Bears not to trade him to some of the other inquiring teams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Bears acquiesced and dealt Fields to the Steelers Saturday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round 2025 draft pick.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
Important note on the Justin Fields trade: At least four additional teams inquired about trading for Fields, but Fields’ representation asked for him not to be traded there. He wanted the #Steelers, and the #Bears did right by him. https://t.co/jE65yV0jzm
“At least” four teams other than the Steelers had expressed interest in trading for Fields, Rapoport noted.
Instead, Fields will join veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Wilson is currently expected to begin the season as the Steelers’ starting quarterback.
The sixth-rounder received by the Bears could increase to a fourth-round selection if Fields participates in 51 percent of the Steelers’ snaps in 2024.
The Bears reportedly turned down better draft compensation in order to send Fields to his desired destination.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported Saturday that five teams in addition to the Steelers had contacted the Bears, and that one of those candidates offered the Bears “stronger draft capital” than the conditional pick dealt by the Steelers.
The Bears chose to send Fields to Pittsburgh despite the lower offer “with the hope of putting the 25-year-old in a position to continue his development— first as a backup to Wilson and eventually as a starter,” Cronin wrote.
Rapoport wrote that the Bears “did right” by Fields with the trade, echoing general manager Ryan Poles’ plan for the trade as he outlined it at the February NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
“If we do go down that road, I want to do right by Justin as well,” Poles said in February, per Jason Owens of Yahoo Sports.
The Bears selected Fields with the No. 11 pick of the 2021 draft. He played three seasons and 40 games for the Bears prior to the trade.
Despite missing four games due to a hand injury in 2023, Fields recorded a career-high 2,562 passing yards for 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, he finished with a losing quarterback record for the third straight season as the Bears’ offense continued to struggle.
The Bears have the luxury of choosing a sub-optimal return for Fields because of their standing in this year’s draft. The team is now expected to use the No. 1 pick to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams this April.
