Bears Insider Details What Ryan Poles' Actual Plans For Justin Fields Are

One of the more puzzling developments of the past month has been the inability (or unwillingness) of the Chicago Bears to trade Justin Fields. GM Ryan Poles has watched as several teams with glaring vacancies at quarterback have filled them with veteran free agents. Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson. Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins. Las Vegas signed Gardner Minshew. This has led many to declare Fields' trade market dead. There is no way the Bears can expect to get anything significant back in a trade at this point.

However, Poles doesn't seem to share that opinion. Courtney Cronin of ESPN revealed as much on the Get Up program. Based on what she's heard, the Bears GM feels that once the draft unfolds, there will inevitably be a result where one or two teams don't land the quarterback they're hoping for.

“Most sources I’ve spoken with gave me the indication that they believe that somebody in the draft will not get the quarterback that they want and that would be the best time for Ryan Poles to strike, and to get closer to the draft compensation that he originally sought after for Justin Fields.”

Productive trades are all about finding the right buyer at the right time. It is why the Bears got such a haul for the #1 pick last year. Teams may indicate they're fine at quarterback right now, but Poles isn't dumb. He knows if the draft doesn't unfold as they way, panic tends to set in. That is when the allure of Fields will become brighter.

Ryan Poles has earned trust on this Justin Fields situation.

The GM has demonstrated on multiple occasions that he understands how fluid and unpredictable the trade market can be. It is about having patience, keeping the phone line open, and finding the right team at the right time. If he can squeeze 4th and 6th round picks out of Robert Quinn and Chase Claypool, there is no reason to think he can't get something reasonable back for Fields. Teams act all disinterested when they feel they have alternatives. Things change when those alternatives don't pan out as they hope.

All Ryan Poles has to do is wait for the right moment. That could come right before the draft or even during the draft. Josh Rosen didn't get traded until Day 2 of the 2019 draft, and he went for a 2nd round pick. Fields is far more proven. There is no reason to think the Bears can't get something solid for him once other teams are up against the clock. Nothing tips the scale more in your favor more than the other team feeling they're running out of time. Poles has no reason to rush. The market will come to him eventually.