The Justin Fields Trade Finally Happened, And It's A Stunner

Fans held out hope that maybe Justin Fields might stay in Chicago. That proved to be the wrong feeling to have. After a long wait, the Chicago Bears have finally made their decision. GM Ryan Poles sent the former 1st round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade. He will join a roster in serious need of a backup behind Russell Wilson. Sadly, the compensation isn't anything special. Chicago receives a 6th round pick in 2025 that becomes a 4th round pick based on how much playing time he gets this coming season.

It isn't the end anybody wanted. Chicago didn't get the franchise quarterback they hoped for, not to mention the return they probably would've in any other year. Fields didn't realize his full potential, suffering from too much inconsistency. He gets a fresh start with a stable organization and gets to learn behind a future Hall of Famer. The Bears clear the way at quarterback for whoever they end up taking at #1 overall. Most agree Caleb Williams of USC is the heavy favorite for that honor.

Justin Fields is another cautionary tale.

Nobody disputes the former Ohio State star is a superior athlete with a terrific work ethic. The problem is it takes so much more than that to be successful at quarterback in the NFL. While he was a brilliant runner with the football, his inability to process defenses at high speed led to constant inconsistency. It didn't help he had a bad tendency to hold the ball, leading to unnecessary sacks. That, along with his expiring rookie contract and an unusually strong crop of free agents, is what led to such a small return in the trade.

Lots of fans won't be happy about this. All of it, from trading Justin Fields at all to the compensation received for him. That is natural. Change is rarely perfect. Yet one thing remains undeniable. The Bears are about to take another big swing at quarterback. They've done everything in their power to prepare for it. Poles has retooled the offensive line and flushed the roster with weapons like D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and D'Andre Swift. They are as ready as they'll ever be. One only hope their evaluation is accurate.