The Chicago Bears are reportedly trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the sixth-round pick is conditional and can turn into a fourth-rounder if Fields plays in 51 per cent of the Steelers’ snaps this season.
Fields was drafted by the Bears 11th overall in the 2021 Draft. He tweeted out a thank you to the city of Chicago and the Bears fanbase following his departure from the team.
He’s set to join a revamped Steelers quarterback room that got rid of sophomore QB Kenny Pickett and acquired veteran Russell Wilson after he was cut by the Denver Broncos.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Wilson is still set to be the starter in Pittsburgh after signing a one-year, $1.2 million deal on Friday. Fields is in the last year of his rookie contract and carries a $3.2 million cap hit. He also has a fifth-year option for $25.6 million in 2025 that has not yet been exercised.
Fields made 13 starts for the Bears last season, throwing for 2562 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also picked up 657 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Chicago seemed destined to move on from Fields after they finished with a 7-10 record (5-8 in Fields’ starts) last season. That choice became easier once the Carolina Panthers finished with the worst record in the league (2-15) and handed over their first-overall pick to the Bears because of a trade last season.
They’re now poised to select their quarterback of the future when they’re on the board in late April at the NFL Draft, with USC Trojans QB Caleb Williams the heavy favourite to end up in the Windy City.
Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 as the best player in College football. He threw for 3633 yards with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions last season. However, the Trojans struggled down the stretch, finishing the year with an 8-5 record.
More to come.
