Chicago is set to receive a conditional draft pick for the year 2025. This information comes from a source who is well-acquainted with the trade’s specifics but chose to remain anonymous.
In a significant move, the Chicago Bears have traded their quarterback, Justin Fields, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This development was shared with The Associated Press by an individual who has knowledge of the transaction.
This trade indicates that the Bears are likely to select a quarterback in the upcoming draft. There is speculation that Caleb Williams from USC could be their choice with the No. 1 overall pick.
The details of the trade have not been officially announced by the teams involved. However, the NFL Network was the first to report on this deal.
With this trade, Justin Fields is expected to serve as a backup to Russell Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler who recently signed a one-year contract with the Steelers. Following Wilson’s addition, Pittsburgh also made a trade, sending Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Justin Fields, who was picked 11th overall in the 2021 draft by the Bears and their former general manager Ryan Pace, had a challenging rookie season under coach Matt Nagy. Despite showcasing his ability to make significant plays both on the ground and through the air, Fields did not progress as a passer as much as the team had hoped during his time with coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles.
Over 40 games, Fields has managed to throw for over 200 yards on just 13 occasions and has only one game where he passed for over 300 yards. This season, he showed some improvement in his pocket presence and achieved a career-high of 2,562 passing yards. However, with an 86.3 passer rating, he ranked 22nd in the NFL.
The Bears had the opportunity to secure a significant return by trading the No. 1 pick. However, the chance to draft a player like Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and has thrown 72 touchdown passes with only 10 interceptions over the last two seasons at USC, is rare for a team that has historically struggled to find a franchise quarterback.
The trade of Fields follows the Bears’ acquisition of Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers, marking their second trade for a star receiver in as many years.
Last March, the Bears traded the No. 1 pick in 2023 to Carolina in exchange for DJ Moore. They also received the Panthers’ first-round pick for this year. With Carolina finishing with the worst record in the league at 2-15, the Bears ended up with the No. 1 pick this year.
This report includes contributions from AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Fla., and AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh.