The Chicago Bears, less than 24 hours into the free agency negotiations period, saw the trade market for their quarterback Justin Fields shrink to zero— at least when it comes to teams willing to pay the price for a starting QB.
Coming into the second day of free agency, the front office was already facing the reality that they may have to take a loss when it comes to Fields and accept that the 25-year-old only has backup QB trade value.
With the no. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, the expectations are that Chicago will select USC super quarterback prospect Caleb Williams and work to build a winning dynasty around him. That, of course, means that Fields has to go.
Chicago Bears Find No Market For Justin Fields
However, with every team with potential interest in acquiring Fields addressing their quarterback needs elsewhere (The Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings) and those teams looking for a qualified backup, such as the Indianapolis Colts, only interested in Fields, in theory, the prospect of moving the talented but inconsistent 3-year veteran for any real draft capital still looks bleak.
But what if there were a way for Bears general manager Ryan Poles to deal Fields for something of value other than draft picks?
That’s exactly the scenario Bears Digest writer Gene Chamberlain offers up in a recent piece shared by Sports Illustrated.
Turning A Loss Into A Gain
Chamberlain suggests that Chicago could offer Fields to the Indianapolis Colts, along with a draft pick (or picks), in return for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who previously spent two seasons playing in Indianapolis under the guidance of current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
Although the 29-year-old Buckner, a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, will be up for free agency after this coming season, he’d still fill a much-needed hole in the Bears defense and could have his deal extended by a Bears team with plenty of available spending money.
Per Chamberlain:
“Enticing the Colts with a draft pick would be one thing. The Colts need a backup quarterback to Anthony Richardson or someone to even take the job from him. A deal with Fields thrown in along with draft picks would sure let Poles save face and turn him into a hero, at least in the eyes of Eberflus and many Bears fans…
Buckner sure would balance out the Bears defensive line…With no one panicking about the fact the Bears have lost their 3-technique, Justin Jones, and the two players behind him looked entirely green last year, the need is huge.”
This certainly sounds like a win-win for both teams. It also looks like a way the Bears could turn a tough trade market into a way to acquire a guaranteed impact player in a deal for their soon-to-be-ex-starting QB.
Turning A Loss Into A Gain
Chamberlain suggests that Chicago could offer Fields to the Indianapolis Colts, along with a draft pick (or picks), in return for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who previously spent two seasons playing in Indianapolis under the guidance of current Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
Although the 29-year-old Buckner, a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, will be up for free agency after this coming season, he’d still fill a much-needed hole in the Bears defense and could have his deal extended by a Bears team with plenty of available spending money.
Per Chamberlain:
“Enticing the Colts with a draft pick would be one thing. The Colts need a backup quarterback to Anthony Richardson or someone to even take the job from him. A deal with Fields thrown in along with draft picks would sure let Poles save face and turn him into a hero, at least in the eyes of Eberflus and many Bears fans…
Buckner sure would balance out the Bears defensive line…With no one panicking about the fact the Bears have lost their 3-technique, Justin Jones, and the two players behind him looked entirely green last year, the need is huge.”
This certainly sounds like a win-win for both teams. It also looks like a way the Bears could turn a tough trade market into a way to acquire a guaranteed impact player in a deal for their soon-to-be-ex-starting QB.
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