The Chicago Bears have traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move clears the way for the Bears to draft a new signal-caller in the 2024 NFL Draft, where they hold the first overall pick.
In exchange for Fields, the Bears will get a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, which will turn into a fourth-rounder if the former Ohio State product plays more than 51% percent of snaps next season.
The Bears drafted Fields with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. In his three years with the franchise, Fields showed flashes of talent but failed to consistently play at a high level. He is 10−28 as a starter and has 6,674 passing yards, 64 passing touchdowns, and 40 interceptions as a pro while adding 2,220 yards and 14 TDs on the ground.
Moving on from Fields was considered a likely option for the Bears ever since they landed the first overall pick via the Carolina Panthers. The 2024 draft class contains several top-rated quarterback prospects, with USC’s Caleb Williams currently being favored to become the land in Chicago.
The Steelers, on the other hand, have now reshaped their QB room. After releasing backup Mitch Trubisky and letting third-stringer Mason Rudolph leave in free agency, the franchise also traded former first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this week. Free-agent signing Russell Wilson is now penciled in to be the starter in 2024, while Fields will serve as his backup and understudy.
