A long-standing NFL offseason question finally got answered on Saturday afternoon: What would become of Justin Fields?
Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers completed the trade to land the Chicago Bears 2021 first-round quarterback, fans are now asking the logical follow-up question: Which team won the trade?
Justin Fields Trade Grades: Breaking It Down
Fields was sent to the Steel City in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2025.
Here are further details of what the Bears are getting in return: That pick is a sixth-round selection. However, if Fields manages to play at least 50% of the starter snaps for the Steelers in 2024, that pick then becomes a fourth-round selection.
On the Steelers’ side, this move adds to what’s shaping up to be a highly scrutinized QB room for 2024. Russell Wilson is already there after his one-year deal officially cleared on Wednesday. Yet, the former Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos quarterback was the lone passer on the Steelers’ depth chart before Saturday.
Adding Fields comes off as a needed depth move in the Steel City. After all, Pittsburgh lost both Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans, respectively, and traded away former starter Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.
What Grade Do Steelers Receive?
Fields is now walking into a completely rearranged QB room.
But with Arthur Smith as his new offensive coordinator, Fields could experience a career renaissance. While Smith had mediocre results as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, he has revitalized first-round quarterbacks before.
Not long ago, Smith turned around one potential NFL first-round bust, Ryan Tannehill, during their days with the Tennessee Titans. The 2012 eighth overall pick put together career-best numbers in 2019 under Smith, leading to his first career Pro Bowl nod. That season also saw the Titans reach the AFC title game.
The move to land Fields isn’t just perceived as a much-needed presence in the QB room for Pittsburgh. It also shapes up as an opportunity for Fields to join Wilson in revitalizing their careers. It’s a win-win scenario for both embattled passers.
Grade: A
What Grade Do Bears Get? Ex-NFL QB Gives Strong Opinion on Move
One of the more unique descriptions of the Fields-Steelers deal came from Robert Griffin III. The past Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback, and current ESPN personality described this move as “big bank taking from little bank.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers just robbed the Chicago Bears on the weekend in broad daylight. Getting Justin Fields in 2024, giving up ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in 2024 and only giving up a 2025 6th round pick that MIGHT turn into a 4th rounder. This is what we call BIG BANK take little bank. pic.twitter.com/Dn2n8KvrWt
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 16, 2024
And in this case, the Bears represent the little bank. Chicago is gaining a Day 3 draft pick, which will only become valuable if Fields beats out Wilson for the starter role or gets in on enough specially designed offensive packages. The Bears, however, come off as the team that misread the market on this one.
Chicago winds up taking way less than what was originally thought would be required to acquire Fields. Per Dan Graziano of ESPN, the Bears were originally seeking a second-round pick in the trade package. However, the market shifted when the following happened:
- Fellow 2021 first-round selection Mac Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
- Sam Howell, a 2022 fifth-round selection, had his trade occur before the Steelers-Bears swap involving Fields.
- Pickett, another past first-round draftee, and Desmond Ridder were traded before Saturday’s move.
While Chicago officially cleared room to draft a passer at No. 1 overall in this move (Caleb Williams of USC remains the trending pick for April), the Bears had the option of keeping Fields a little longer and potentially utilizing him as a draft-night trade chip.
This tactic would’ve at least given Chicago way more in exchange, even if it was in the form of future draft capital. Making the move now comes off as a hurried, panicky attempt to get rid of Fields on Chicago’s end.
KEEP READING: NFL Post-Free Agency Power Rankings
While Chicago has had an aggressive offseason by locking in cornerback Jaylon Johnson and trading for six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen, what the Bears get out of the Fields trade makes this their least needling-moving deal of 2024.
Grade: D
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