The Chicago Bears began the offseason by leaving the door open to keeping quarterback Justin Fields and trading the top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A few months later, it’s evident that the Bears’ choice was made, and Fields now confronts an uncertain future in 2024.
The majority of NFL teams understood in early February that Chicago would select quarterback Caleb Williams with the first choice. The only question was which quarterback-needy team would acquire Fields, with Chicago expected to receive a second-round pick in exchange.
Justin Fields 2023 stats: 86.3 quarterback rating, 61.4 percent completion rate, 16-9 touchdown-interception ratio, 2,562 passing yards, 657 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 4 rushing touchdowns in 13 games.
The Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers were widely regarded as potential bidders. If Baker Mayfield signed with another team in NFL free agency, several speculated that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be an option.
Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins, Gardner Minshew will take over in Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh Russel Wilson, Minnesota is taking a chance on Sam Darnold, Mayfield remained in Tampa Bay, and the Patriots reconnected with Jacoby Brissett. In just a few days, the current Bears quarterback will have no definite landing location, let alone a starting opportunity. With little trade interest in the league, there could be two surprise clubs to watch.
According to NFL source Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado, the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles may pursue Fields as a backup quarterback option. He later stated in a broadcast on Monday that he believes the Colts are the best landing destination.
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In either case, Fields would not have a chance to play in 2024 unless Jalen Hurts or Anthony Richardson suffered a serious injury. However, he would have the option of spending a year being trained up by the Eagles’ coaching staff or working one-on-one with Colts head coach Shane Steichen.
