For NFL fans, social media is the perfect place to gather relevant information, share angst about their favorite teams, and discuss hypothetical trade scenarios. That last one becomes a very interesting topic as the season rolls along and the fates of certain teams start to become clearer.
In the case of Chicago Bears fans, one hypothetical trade scenario that has popped up in recent days involves quarterback Justin Fields. Various sports sites and personalities have shared trade ideas surrounding Fields, such as dealing him to the Atlanta Falcons so the Bears can draft another quarterback, or sending Fields to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for QB Kyler Murray.
Buy Bears TicketsMe. Gimme your thoughts Chicago! #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/lPNHfWqutM
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) October 3, 2023
Trading Fields is the sports topic that creates the most buzz, and one can argue it makes sense. But no matter how bad things get for Chicago, and they’re certainly not great as they’re sitting at 0-4, they still shouldn’t trade the young quarterback during the season.
The Bears are at a low point, coming off their latest loss of the season, a 31-28 crushing defeat to the Denver Broncos. But in that loss was stellar quarterback play from Fields, who had the best game of his young career. Fields went 28-of-25 for 335 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Though the pick came with the game on the line, there was much to like about his performance after a sluggish start to the season. That has fans thinking he could be moved for draft capital prior to the trade deadline, while the Bears set their sights on finding the next great quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. It’s a fun thought, but it’s hardly practical.
There are still four weeks until the NFL trade deadline (Oct. 31st), and the Bears could at that point still be in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall pick. Trading Fields would make general manager Ryan Poles’ intentions clear: to tank for the top pick for the chance to draft someone like USC’s Caleb Williams. But there would still be nine games to play, and nothing is guaranteed in this league.
Even if the Bears (presumably) got worse during that time, who’s to say they wouldn’t luck into a couple of wins? What if another team bottoms out even worse? Next thing you know, Chicago isn’t in position to get the top pick in the draft and they miss out on a chance for their ideal quarterback. They could then be forced to give away their valuable draft assets for that top pick, something that’s not ideal for a team that still needs plenty of other help. Even with the Carolina Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick in hand, a lot can change from late October to early January. Missing out on a top prospect while giving away Fields isn’t worth the gamble.
Not only that, are teams really lining up to deal for a starting quarterback during the middle of the season? The last significant quarterback trade that took place midseason sent Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. And even then, he was a backup behind Tom Brady before he became the starter in San Francisco. A Fields-level trade during the season doesn’t happen in this league.
Unless the improbable happens and there is some sort of blockbuster deal where a team is willing to trade the farm, any talk of trading Fields should wait until the season has concluded. Give him the rest of the year, see where the team winds up with staff changes and draft position, and make the decision then. The Bears gain very little by dealing him in October and stand to lose too much if the chips don’t fall the way they want. It took a miraculous finish from the Houston Texans in Week 18 to guarantee the Bears the No. 1 overall pick this past year. Who’s to say it will happen again?
Though things look bleak as Chicago prepares to take on the Washington Commanders on a short week, there is still a chance Fields turns a corner and plays to his potential. He could show the Bears that he’s still a dynamic playmaker who can elevate a team that is worth building around. And if he is, but the Bears still wind up with the top pick, then they have options. But picking a lane now is a gamble Poles cannot make. Let’s get to the end of the season and go from there. Until then, you might want to find other players to entertain in trade scenarios.
