There have been no significant changes in the quarterback market for Justin Fields, but there are signs that potential opportunities may be emerging.
Regardless, it seems likely that Fields will have to wait longer for a clear resolution as he finds himself in a state of uncertainty.
Although the Pittsburgh Steelers cannot be discounted as a possible destination for Fields if the Chicago Bears decide to trade him, recent developments suggest that the door may be open. This is because Russell Wilson, after meeting with the New York Giants, visited Pittsburgh but reportedly did not reach an agreement. It’s important to note that Wilson is currently under contract with the Seattle Seahawks until his official release by the team, which is expected to occur on Wednesday at 3 p.m. coinciding with the start of the new league year.
Typically, news about these types of meetings and potential agreements tends to leak from agents, so the fact that no such information emerged after Wilson’s visit to Pittsburgh could leave room for Fields to potentially land with the Steelers.
There was a glimmer of hope in Atlanta, which appeared to be a likely destination for Kirk Cousins earlier in the week. Dianna Russini of The Athletic commented on the Falcons’ interest in Cousins, stating, “…and I think at this point right now, I’m not certain that they’re lined up.” This suggests that the Falcons’ pursuit of Cousins may not be as definite as previously thought. Consequently, this could present an opportunity for the Minnesota Vikings to retain their quarterback, leaving Atlanta as a potential landing spot for Justin Fields.
The latest draft projections indicate that up to five quarterbacks could be selected in the early stages of the first round. This potentially reduces the likelihood of Justin Fields ending up with the Atlanta Falcons if the Kirk Cousins deal doesn’t materialize. However, the resolution of this situation is not expected until late April, during the draft.
Other potential landing spots for Fields are also being discussed, but these possibilities would likely prolong the waiting period for Fields to determine his destination.
One such suggestion comes from ESPN’s Matt Miller, who raises the idea of Tampa Bay as a potential option for Fields.
Baker Mayfield’s contract situation remains unresolved, and if he were to leave the Cleveland Browns as a free agent, it could potentially put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a difficult position. This is particularly challenging considering that the Buccaneers have the 26th pick in the first round of the draft. Given the current projections of quarterbacks moving up in the draft, it is possible that the top six quarterbacks could be off the board by the time the Buccaneers make their selection.
In such a scenario, Justin Fields could be an alternative option for the Buccaneers. It’s worth noting that Tampa Bay’s picks in the second and third rounds are relatively late (57th and 89th respectively), further limiting their opportunities to secure a quarterback in the draft.
Another less likely possibility is the Seattle Seahawks. With Geno Smith as their current quarterback, it appears that a competition scenario would be the best-case scenario, and the Seahawks could be in a position to draft a quarterback like Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix. While it seems unlikely that all six quarterbacks would be gone by the time Seattle picks at No. 16, it is also improbable for those picks to step in and start immediately.
The situation is constantly evolving, and as the circumstances change, the idea of waiting until closer to the draft rather than making a trade during free agency may become more appealing from the Chicago Bears’ perspective.
Additionally, there is another player who could potentially enter the market in Mac Jones. According to Ian Rapoport, the New England Patriots are open to trading their starting quarterback. However, it seems unlikely that a team would prefer to trade for Jones over Justin Fields. This is because Jones has seen a decline in his passer rating over the last two years, and there was a point when he was benched in favor of Bailey Zappe.
