Report: Teams looking at Justin Fields as 'backup' in potential trade for QB

Justin Fields could be looking at a backup quarterback job in 2024, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Schefter previously reported the trade market was “not robust” for the former Ohio State QB and first round pick. Now that teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders, who signed Kirk Cousins and Gardner Minshew respectively, are presumably out on Fields, there are many places remaining.

According to Schefter, that’s at least in the starting QB market for Fields.

“Well listen, Justin Fields was connected to Atlanta, never happened, they went and signed Kirk Cousins,” Schefter said on First Take. “He was connected to Pittsburgh. They landed Russell Wilson. He was connected to Las Vegas. They went with Gardner Minshew. So all the places that have come up in connection to Justin Fields have looked to other places.

“What’s amazing to me about this is that Justin Fields is due to make $2.7 million this upcoming season. So there are teams out there that would rather pay all these other quarterbacks than Justin Fields.” 

After starring at Ohio State, Fields has been up and down in three seasons with the Bears. In total, Fields has 6,674 yards, 40 touchdowns, 30 interceptions, a 60.3% completion percentage, 2,220 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

If Fields isn’t starting caliber in the minds of other teams willing to possibly make a trade, the former Buckeye only has a decreasing value.

“And so now he’s sitting there, and it doesn’t look like there’s a starting job out there at this particular moment, and so the teams that are looking at him would be looking at him as a backup,” Schefter said.

“And would Chicago then get the value that it wants and what does Chicago do about that? This right now is an ongoing situation … And here he is back in Chicago. The Bears will have to wait to see what opportunities arise. But it certainly doesn’t seem right now like anything is imminent with Justin Fields.”

Chicago, which holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is leaning towards taking USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The former Heisman winner is seen as a franchise-changing talent.

GM Ryan Poles may have hinted at what move Chicago will make at the quarterback position  after being asked if he’d be motivated to move on from Fields via a trade early ahead of free agency if they do in fact draft a quarterback with the top pick.

“It just depends on what opportunities pop up,” Poles said. “I will say this, I think you guys know me well enough now, if we go down that road I wanna do right by Justin as well. No one wants to live in gray. I know that’s uncomfortable. I wouldn’t wanna be in that situation either. So we’ll gather the information. We’ll move as quickly as possible. We’re not gonna be in a rush. And see what presents itself and what’s best for the organization.”