Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles, previously the Chiefs’ director of college scouting when they drafted Patrick Mahomes, understands the value of allowing a young quarterback to develop behind a veteran starter, as Mahomes did with Alex Smith. However, the Bears’ situation was different. Instead of having a proven starter like Smith, the Bears had Justin Fields entering his fourth season with questions about his development.
Adding another highly touted quarterback like Caleb Williams to the mix, even for offseason workouts and training camp, could have created tension or awkwardness between the two players, especially considering the recent vocal support for Fields from several Bears players. To avoid potential locker room discord, Poles traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick, which can convert to a fourth-rounder if Fields plays 51% of the offensive snaps this season.
Before the trade, an NFL assistant coach told ESPN that having both Fields and Williams on the roster would be untenable. Despite not receiving the compensation they initially sought (a Day 2 draft selection plus a late conditional 2025 pick), the Bears decided to move Fields as his market was shrinking. Multiple teams had offers for Fields, with most viewing him as a backup.
Poles could have waited until the start of the season and engaged in trade talks with teams in need of a starting quarterback due to injury. However, he opted to trade Fields to the Steelers, who had recently signed Russell Wilson, ensuring that Fields would not be subjected to a prolonged period before being dealt and that he would not be traded to a team with a young starting quarterback.
“We have engaged in multiple trade conversations in recent weeks and believe trading Justin at this time to Pittsburgh is what is best for both Justin and the Bears,” Poles said in a statement. “…We spoke to Justin to inform him of the trade and the rationale behind it for us as a club.
“We want to thank him for his tireless dedication, leadership and all he poured into our franchise and community the last three years and wish him the best towards a long and successful NFL career.”
In a social media post Saturday, Fields thanked the Bears and the city of Chicago “for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise.”
It meant a lot to Poles to be able to part ways with Fields, who was drafted by GM Ryan Pace in 2021, on good terms. That may not have been the case if he kept Fields and drafted Williams.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, like Mahomes, is among other young QBs who benefitted from sitting for at least a year.
But Poles didn’t see that working for Fields or the top pick. He said as much at the combine when discussing what he’s learned about successfully developing a quarterback.
“There’s a lot there,” he said. “What’s the infrastructure look like? What’s around the player? I think that’s key.”
In Chicago, what’s around the rookie quarterback the Bears will draft is a roster that is ready to compete.
Recently acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen joins wide receiver DJ Moore as the only teammates in the NFL who had at least 90 receptions and 1,200 yards in 2023. The Bears upgraded their backfield with D’Andre Swift, added Gerald Everett to the tight end room and are improving along the offensive line after adding a projected starter at center in Coleman Shelton. Chicago’s young defense is loaded with talent from defensive end Montez Sweat to cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Establishing a clear-cut role for their soon-to-be new QB1 separated Poles from the way the organization operated in the past, like when the team traded up to draft Fields, sandwiching him between two veteran quarterbacks — Andy Dalton and Nick Foles — who weren’t keen on ceding their jobs to a rookie.
There won’t be any suspense about who the Bears’ starting quarterback will be after the first round of the draft on April 25. The only question is how much of an upgrade will he be over Fields.
