Earlier this month, Bears general manager Ryan Poles achieved his declared objective of treating the former first-round quarterback fairly by moving on from Justin Fields. The latter recently discussed the team’s attempts to move Fields into a circumstance that may lead to a starting role as well as the sluggish trade market that was in place.
Shortly after getting Russell Wilson, the Steelers moved quickly to acquire Fields for a conditional sixth-round pick. Following Wilson’s arrival, the decision to deal away Kenny Pickett paved the way for the Fields trade and the subsequent overhaul of Pittsburgh’s quarterback room.
Speaking at the league meetings, Poles reaffirmed a recent story that suggested the Steelers’ bid was not the best given to Chicago.
Although Fields is already known to have preferred to go to Pittsburgh, more information about his other possible destinations has come to light. Prior to the start of free agency, the 25-year-old was reportedly also contemplating the Vikings, Raiders, and Falcons, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. The Falcons were reduced to a reserve team when Kirk Cousins decided to leave Minnesota and sign with Atlanta; the Vikings may have felt the same way after adding Sam Darnold as a temporary substitute for Cousins.
Aidan O’Connell was already acquired by the Raiders (who were previously involved in a transaction involving Fields), and they also added veteran Gardner Minshew as a bridge starter or elite backup. Fields would have been in a precarious scenario if he had signed a deal with Vegas, since they might be looking to choose a passer in the draft next month. Naturally, it would have also been the case if Poles had chosen to retain Fields and still use the first overall pick in the draft to select a quarterback.
Fields is no longer in the picture, therefore Caleb Williams is still expected to be the first player named on draft night. It would have been uncomfortable to have both passers in the same QB room, but the former is now in position to contend for a No. 1 in a new setting, while Chicago is set up to start over at quarterback.
