Trade for Justin Fields, or Take a QB in the 1st Round?
If the Chicago Bears keep the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and use it on a new franchise quarterback, they should have no shortage of suitors for current starting quarterback Justin Fields. Fields has had a roller-coaster of an NFL career so far in Chicago, thanks in large part to the lack of stability and supporting cast around him, which has contributed to his disjointed development up to this point. Still, the flashes of brilliance have been extremely bright, and Fields still brings tons of potential to the table. But where could he land?
Considering the top three quarterback prospects in this year’s draft (USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels) are all expected to the top-five picks, there will still be a handful of QB-needy teams looking for a franchise passer.
With those top three names off the board, teams like the Atlanta Falcons (picking No. 8 in the first round), Minnesota Vikings (No. 11), Denver Broncos (No. 12), and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) could be left to reach for the next-best passer in this year’s class. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix, and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. are in the next tier of quarterback prospects, but do any of them warrant a top-15 selection?
McCarthy played in a run-heavy Wolverines offense that rarely tested his ability to carry the offense as a passer, while Nix and Penix are barely a year younger than Fields, despite Fields already having three years of pro experience under his belt.
If any of those three are still on the board in the second round, that would represent much better value, but there’s no guarantee that will happen. Trading for Fields before the trade would solidify the position, and leave out the guesswork on draft weekend. Instead of over-drafting a Day 2 prospect at the game’s most important position, any team picking outside of the top five should make a run at Fields, hoping the Bears would be willing to part with him for less than a first-round pick.
