Ian Rapoport Hints Justin Fields Market Will Include Unexpected Teams
Based on the information available to this point, it feels like the Chicago Bears will trade quarterback Justin Fields at some point within the next month. GM Ryan Poles wishes to restart the clock at the position with somebody of his choosing. Most believe that will be Caleb Williams with the #1 pick. That remains to be seen. The bigger topic of discussion at the moment is what the Bears might be able to get for Fields. Current estimates suggest they’re looking at a 2nd round pick. However, a 1st isn’t out of the question. It depends on how strong the market is.
Here is where it gets interesting. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is one of the insiders who suggested a 1st round pick is possible for Chicago. Part of the reason is that there might be more teams interested in Fields than some realize. Current projections have the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers being the heavy favorites. However, Rapoport believes circumstances could bring other notable teams into the mix. He provided two such examples during a conversation on Waddle & Silvy for ESPN 1000.
Justin Fields isn’t only being eyed by teams with current vacancies.
There is a real chance other teams may see spots come open by the start of the off-season. Tampa Bay and Minnesota are perfect examples. Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield are set to become free agents. While many presume those respective teams will try to keep those quarterbacks, it is far from certain. If one of those QBs ends up going elsewhere, it instantly creates another QB void that must be filled. Neither team is in a great position to draft a quarterback, too. Minnesota picks 11th and Tampa Bay is 26th.
This is why the Bears appear to be in such a great position. We already know the teams with obvious quarterback problems. What we don’t yet know is the team that may soon have one. Such developments will make Justin Fields look all the more intriguing. All it would take is three or four teams to get into a bidding war for Poles to secure a lucrative package in a trade. Hence why Rapoport and others can envision a 1st round pick ending up on the table.