6 NFL Teams That Should Capitalize on Slow Trade Market for Bears QB Justin Fields
5 NFL Teams That Should Capitalize on Slow Trade Market for Bears QB Justin Fields0 of 5
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
The Justin Fields trade rumor mill has been churning out buzz since February, but he remains a member of the Chicago Bears for now. However, the Bears appear to be a near-lock to select a signal-caller with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Now that some of the dust has settled on the quarterback carousel, we can recalibrate to get a gauge on where Fields might land in 2024.
Let’s take a run through the teams that would be smart to capitalize on what’s starting to look like a soft trade market for the No. 11 overall pick of the 2021 draft.
New York Giants1 of 5
Giants QB Daniel JonesBrandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is heading into a make-or-break season. He has a massive $47.1 million cap hit in 2024, but the Giants can create more than $19 million in salary-cap savings by releasing him in 2025.
The Giants did just sign Drew Lock, but Lock doesn’t have the same skill set or upside that Fields possesses. It’d be worth adding more quarterback insurance in the (likely) event that Jones doesn’t pan out.
Besides, the mere presence of Fields (and Lock) could help push Jones. That alone would make this an intriguing investment.
New England Patriots2 of 5
New Patriots head coach Jerod MayoJonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Patriots figure to take a stab at landing their quarterback of the future by drafting UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the third overall pick. But they could instead look to trade down or stand pat and select an elite non-quarterback prospect like Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
If they do that, teaming Harrison with Fields would a ton of sense. Why not swing the bat on Fields at what a potentially discounted price in a rebuild year?
The risk would be if Maye and/or Daniels becomes a star and Fields doesn’t take off. That scenario would be a strikeout for the Patriots. But there’s a decent chance that Maye or Daniels would fail for them as well, especially without the luxury of an elite talent like Harrison (in this hypothetical) at wide receiver.
Regardless, adding Fields could at least bring some intriguing energy to Foxborough, beyond whatever the newly signed Jacoby Brissett offers the team and its fanbase.
Minnesota Vikings3 of 5
New Vikings QB Sam DarnoldThearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
The Vikings effectively replaced Kirk Cousins with Sam Darnold in free agency. Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, still has a chance to revive his career in a new setting, especially if that setting contains Justin Jefferson.
With that said, Darnold has yet to take grip of a starting job in six NFL seasons. The Vikes would be smart to at least bring in some healthy competition for him. With all due respect to Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall, Fields has more ability to offer that after some promising moments as a playmaker in Chicago.
It also doesn’t hurt that Jefferson himself seems to be lobbying for Fields to join him in Minnesota. However, the Vikings might be reluctant to deal the talented signal-caller within the NFC North.
Regardless, the Vikings would be a sensible landing spot for him, because they probably should give Darnold more competition.
Denver Broncos4 of 5
Broncos head coach Sean PaytonStacy Revere/Getty Images
What do the Denver Broncos have to lose following Russell Wilson’s departure? They’re currently down to Ben DiNucci and Jarrett Stidham at quarterback.
Making matters worse, the Broncos currently hold the No. 12 pick in this year’s draft, so they could fall short in the J.J. McCarthy sweepstakes. They’re also short on salary-cap space, although it’s not like there’s an obvious answer on the free-agent market.
With Fields’ trade market seemingly drying up, why not add a wild card like him to the equation?
That No. 12 pick is the only one that the Broncos have in the first two rounds. Not only are they likely to strike out on Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, but they could miss out on McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., too.
If the Broncos aren’t willing to gamble on the draft, it would make sense to take a short-term swing on Fields instead.
Las Vegas Raiders5 of 5
Raiders QB Aidan O’ConnellIan Maule/Getty Images
The Jimmy Garoppolo era is over in Las Vegas. There’s still hope for both Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, but does anyone feel good about either of those guys long-term?
Both Minshew and O’Connell have clear limitations, and Fields could become a much better quarterback than either one. (He might be already, frankly.) Their skill sets are not comparable.
If the Raiders could add Fields at a reasonable price, they could stage a three-way quarterback battle throughout training camp and the preseason. May the best man win…
