Bears star quarterback Justin Fields is already the hottest topic on the early NFL offseason trade market, and rumors are starting to heat up.
Chicago is in the heart of the trade zone as the owner of the Panthers' No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears acquired the top pick in a trade that sent last year's No. 1 overall pick to Carolina, allowing them to move up and draft Alabama star quarterback Bryce Young.
After taking Fields with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Chicago wanted to give their potential franchise quarterback a better chance to prove himself. The Bears, who finished the season with a disappointing 7-10 record and last place in the NFC North, seem more comfortable moving on from the 24-year-old this time around.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is seen as the best player in this year's draft, and Chicago is reportedly considering moving Fields, which would give the team a shot at winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy. This will pave the way for the selection of
Sporting News has the latest information on Fields rumors below.
Justin Fields Trade Rumor Tracker
The Bears were originally scheduled to host Caleb Williams for a Top 30 visit on Tuesday.
Date: March 4th
Source: Albert Brier of Sports Illustrated
The Bears had planned to take Williams on an “unusually early” visit after the NFL combine to solidify their plans at quarterback.
“The idea was very simple,” Breer explained. “Chicago wanted to check off some final boxes before finalizing plans for quarterback before free agency begins next week. Ultimately, Williams and the team decided to change things up. Rather than having the quarterback travel back and forth to California again, the Bears will instead host Williams in Chicago immediately thereafter in preparation for his pro day on March 20th.
The visit would have allowed the Bears to gather important medical data on Williams, who declined to participate in a medical exam at the NFL combine. Chicago will be able to better evaluate its QB options at No. 1 overall while considering Fields' future in light of these test results.
It also shows that the Bears are looking to move quickly on a decision to maximize Fields' trade value. Still, it will be interesting to see if Williams is willing to sign a contract without medical guarantees.
Bears could 'probably' take second-day draft pick or Fields
Date: March 3rd
Source: Jeremy Fowler of ESPN
There continues to be talk of a trade between Fields and the Bears, but there is no clear deadline in sight. What's becoming more clear is that the package Chicago gets may not be as lucrative as once thought.
“Chicago hasn't made any moves of their own, and multiple league sources say Fields, who hasn't requested a trade, could probably get a second-day pick in a potential deal,” Fowler said. I believe that,” he said. “There's no hard deadline for a trade, but the start of free agency is kind of soft.”
Bears could face a lukewarm trade market for Fields
Date: March 2nd
Source: ESPN's Adam Schefter
The Bears hope to get a trade for Fields done before free agency begins, but the market is “not as robust as the Bears and Justin Fields would like,” Schefter said Saturday.
“There aren't that many teams interested in a trade for Justin Fields, as the Bears are trying to find a place for him before free agency opens in about 10 days,” Schefter said. continued.
What could the Bears get in exchange for Fields?
Date: March 2nd
Source: ESPN's Adam Schefter
Schefter said on his “Pardon My Take” podcast that the Jets bringing back quarterback Sam Darnold could be the Bears' best chance to find out what they can expect in a Fields trade. . New York received a second-, fourth-, and sixth-round pick from Carolina in exchange for Darnold.
DraftKings restarts Fields' next team odds, Falcons heavily favored
Date: February 29th
Source: DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings on Wednesday identified the Falcons as the top choice to acquire Fields, after initially ruling it out.
The odds for the Falcons to acquire Fields are currently -425, and the implied probability of Atlanta being the team to trade the 2021 first-round pick to is 80.95%.
Below is a list of the eight teams with the best odds to acquire Fields, according to DraftKings.
Team Odds Falcons -425 Bears +240 Steelers +380 Raiders +1200 Giants +1800 Patriots +2200 Broncos +4000 Commanders +4000
DraftKings removes Fields' next team odds
Date: February 28th
Source: DraftKings Sportsbook
On Wednesday, DraftKings removed Fields' next team odds from its sportsbook, sending NFL fans into a frenzy.
Sportsbooks are almost always ahead of the curve, and DraftKings' latest stunt has people thinking a trade is a foregone conclusion if they're not betting on Fields' future destination.
Falcons emerge as Bears' best trade partner for Fields
Date: February 27th
Source: Josh Schrock, NBC Sports Chicago
“League officials told NBC Sports Chicago that the Falcons have confirmed with the Bears about Fields,” Schrock reported. “While it is unclear how far the conversation has progressed, there is reason to expect it will resume in Indianapolis this week.”
The Falcons have made it clear they are interested in upgrading at quarterback. On Tuesday, new head coach Raheem Morris said candidly, “If our quarterback had played better, I might not be here on the podium.”
Morris also mentioned finding “the best fit for our city,” considering Fields is from Kennesaw, Georgia, making the rumors even louder.
More: Why Justin Fields video sparked Bears-Falcons trade rumors
Steelers, Falcons, Raiders are major teams interested in Fields
Date: February 27th
Source: Tyler Dragon, USA Today Sports
“The Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders have expressed some interest in Fields, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports,” Dragon wrote.
All three destinations would make sense for the two-way quarterback considering each franchise went through multiple starting QBs last season.
The Falcons struggled between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. The Raiders went through Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O'Connell and Brian Hoyer. The Steelers used Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph.
Fields is a clear upgrade over either of these names.
Caleb Williams wants to 'rewrite history' with Chicago Bears
News about Fields usually has Williams' name attached to it, and vice versa.
The USC quarterback spoke about the possibility of suiting up in a Bears uniform at the NFL Combine on Friday morning.
“For a team with the No. 1 pick, that's pretty good,” Williams said of the Bears' 7-10 record. “They play a good defense and they have good players on offense. If we can get into a situation like that, it's very exciting.”
Caleb Williams' thoughts on Chicago #bear team. pic.twitter.com/ikfHMiMrQu
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) March 1, 2024
The Bears have a revolving door of quarterbacks, so if they draft Williams, they'll hope he stops this trend.
But Williams doesn't compare himself to quarterbacks of the past. He wants to “rewrite history.”
Caleb Williams says Bears history hasn't had a great QB:
“I don't compare myself to others…I like rewriting history.” @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/6dWiOOVkdD
— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) March 1, 2024
This story will be updated.