The Justin Fields saga is finally over. The Chicago Bears traded the 2021 first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday for a 2025 sixth-round pick that goes to a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51% or more of the offensive snaps in 2024.
Remember when we were told Chicago believed it could get a first-round pick for Fields? Or at least a second-round pick?
Not only did the Bears not receive a pick in the first three rounds, but instead, a conditional pick in 2025 — not 2024.
Fields is not the first quarterback traded this week. The Patriots traded fellow 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. Then, the Steelers — after signing Russell Wilson — traded 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Eagles for a 2024 third-round pick (No. 98 overall) and two 2025 seventh-round picks.
Lastly, the Washington Commanders traded 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks in a pick swap that included a fourth-round pick (No. 102 overall) and a sixth-round pick (No. 179 overall) to Washington for a third-round pick (No. 78 overall) and a fifth-round pick (No. 152).
In the end, Washington GM Adam Peters turned a former fifth-round pick into a third-round pick. Meanwhile, the GMs of the other teams secured less for their former first-round quarterbacks.
Kudos to Peters.
It also says that many view Howell in a more favorable light than the other three passers. Seattle GM John Schneider acknowledged multiple teams were involved with the Commanders for Howell. There was a market for him. Can we say the same for Fields, Jones and Pickett?
Thanks to Washington’s trade of Howell, the Commanders now have six of the top 100 picks in the 2024 NFL draft. Washington will likely select its quarterback of the future at No. 2 and use the rest of those picks to build a nucleus around him.
One concern for the Commanders is the current offensive tackle depth chart. Fortunately, it’s a deep class, and Peters can use some of those picks to make a move back into the first round to land a left tackle.
It’s been less than a week since the offseason began, but the Commanders appear to be in good hands with Adam Peters making decisions.
