Justin Fields Has Unexpected Fan Who Could Steer Trade Market

Recent reports paint a tough picture for the Chicago Bears. It sounds like the market for Justin Fields hasn't formed as GM Ryan Poles had hoped. Teams aren't anxious to give up significant draft capital to acquire him, preferring instead to explore the free agent market with names like Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, and now Russell Wilson. This will force the Bears to wait things out, hoping something comes together after the initial wave of free agency passes two weeks from now. A lot will come down to the right people being interested.

Here is where things get interesting. Whispers from Atlanta indicate the Falcons plan to make a run at Cousins if Minnesota fails to re-sign him. Head coach Raheem Morris worked with him in Washington. However, there is a possibility the team doesn't get what it wants. If they fail to land any of the free agents, they'll be left in a dilemma. Either hope they can land somebody in the draft or trade for Fields. Albert Breer of the MMQB revealed a fascinating subplot to this scenario.

"Two connections that are at least interesting to me on the Justin Fields front. One is former Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace, who drafted Fields and is now with the Atlanta Falcons (where I’ve heard the owner also likes Fields). The other is former Bears coach Matt Nagy with the Kansas City Chiefs. If the bottom falls out on Fields’s market, would the Chiefs take him as a backup that they could, perhaps, develop? Andy Reid has always liked such projects at quarterback."

Justin Fields is stuck in limbo for now.

Any time an owner is involved, it is worth noting. Arthur Blank isn't known for meddling, but he always makes his opinion known inside the Falcons organization. If he is a fan of Fields, that will carry significant weight with the quarterback decision. It also doesn't hurt that former Bears GM Ryan Pace is also in their front office. He drafted Fields and has a great read on both the talent and the person. While Cousins sounds like Plan A, there is every reason to think Fields is Plan B.

The hard truth is the market is there right now. That could change by the end of the month. Sam Darnold wasn't traded in 2021 until April 5th. Sometimes waiting things out can yield the results you're looking for. It also depends on what the Bears' expected compensation for Justin Fields is. Poles seems ready and willing to wait this thing out. He isn't the type to feel the pressure to get something done. History says somebody will come forward with a favorable offer given enough time.