Why the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Steelers،
CHICAGO — Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was the Chiefs' director of college scouting in 2017 when Kansas City drafted quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who sat for a year and learned behind veteran starter Alex Smith . The Poles know the dynamic could work.
But that’s not what he faced with the Bears.
Instead of having a proven starter like Smith, the Bears had Justin Fields entering his fourth season with questions about his development. Adding a No. 1 pick like USC quarterback Caleb Williams to the mix, even just for offseason workouts and training camp, could have made the situation untenable, or at least awkward for both players. While several Bears players have recently expressed strong support for Fields, the potential for discord in the locker room had to be taken into account.
The Poles avoided that scenario by trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night for a 2025 sixth-round pick, which converts into a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51% of the offensive snaps this season.
“You just can't [have both on the roster]” an NFL assistant coach told ESPN before the trade. “The league bluffed Chicago and won.
“They don't get anything for [Fields]and I just have to let him go.
Clearly, this was not the compensation the Poles were originally seeking. A source with knowledge of the team's plans told ESPN that the Bears initially considered a second-day draft selection as well as a late conditional pick for 2025. Six teams, including Pittsburgh, offered various offers, with most considering Fields as replacement.
Thanks to a flurry of QB activity, Fields' market was shrinking. After being unable to move Fields before the start of free agency, multiple NFL front office sources told ESPN they believe Chicago's best chance of getting the compensation they want — or close to it — would be if a team was missing the quarterback. hoped to write in April.
The Poles also could have waited until the season started and, when a starting quarterback got injured, engaged that team in trade talks.
But when Pole said in February that he wanted to “do right” by Fields, that meant not subjecting him to an extended period of time before being dealt with. That also meant not dealing him to a team that had a young starting quarterback, and the Steelers met that criteria after signing Russell Wilson to a one-year deal.
“We have engaged in numerous trade conversations over the past several weeks and believe trading Justin to Pittsburgh is what is best for Justin and the Bears,” Poles said in a statement. “…We have spoken to Justin to inform him of the trade and the rationale behind it for us as a club.
“We want to thank him for his tireless dedication, leadership and everything he has brought to our franchise and community over the past three years and wish him the best for a long and successful career in the NFL.”
In a social media post Saturday, Fields thanked the Bears and the city of Chicago “for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a historic franchise.”
It meant a lot to the Poles to be able to part ways with Fields, who was drafted by general manager Ryan Pace in 2021, on good terms. That might not have been the case if he had kept Fields and drafted Williams.
Additionally, Pole wanted to put his new quarterback in the best position to succeed, and as he discussed during the huddle, there are many factors to consider.
“What does the infrastructure look like? he said. “What's around the player? I think that's the key.”
In Chicago, the rookie quarterback the Bears will draft is a team ready to compete.
Recently acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen joins wide receiver DJ Moore as the only NFL teammates with at least 90 receptions and 1,200 yards in 2023. The Bears upgraded their backfield with D'Andre Swift, added Gerald Everett at the tight ends room and improves along the offensive line after adding a projected starter at center in Coleman Shelton. Chicago's young defense is loaded with talent, from defensive end Montez Sweat to cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Establishing a clear role for their future QB1 separated the Poles from how the organization operated in the past, such as when the team moved to draft Fields, sandwiching him between two veteran quarterbacks – Andy Dalton and Nick. Crazy people – who weren't willing to give up their jobs to a rookie.
There will be no suspense over who the Bears' starting quarterback will be after the first round of the draft on April 25. The only question is how much improved he will be over Fields.
