Bears TRADE Justin Fields to Steelers | CBS Sports

CBS Sports
16 Mar 202409:28

Summary

TLDRIn a major NFL trade, the Chicago Bears are reportedly sending quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional draft pick that could rise to the fourth round based on playing time. This move comes as the Bears are poised to select quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. The Steelers have also recently acquired Russell Wilson, leading to a significant shake-up in their quarterback room following the trade of last year's starter, Kenny Pickett, to the Eagles. The trade is seen as a positive for both teams, providing the Bears with a fresh start and the Steelers with an exciting duo of quarterbacks.

Takeaways

  • 🏈 The Chicago Bears are trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, as reported by senior NFL Insider Jonathan Jones.
  • đŸ€ In return, the Bears are reportedly receiving a sixth-round pick that could become a fourth-rounder based on Fields' playing time, according to ESPN.
  • 📈 The trade comes as the Bears hold the number one overall pick and are considering quarterback Caleb Williams as their top choice.
  • 🔄 Fields' move to the Steelers puts him alongside Russell Wilson, who recently signed with Pittsburgh.
  • đŸ€” The Steelers also traded last year's starter, Kenny Pickett, to the Eagles, signaling a significant shake-up in their quarterback room.
  • 💰 The Steelers are expected to have a relatively low combined cost for their two starting-caliber quarterbacks, Fields and Wilson, at around $4 million.
  • 🏆 There is speculation about a potential quarterback competition in Pittsburgh, with some reports suggesting Russell Wilson will be the starter.
  • 🌟 The trade is seen as a positive for both the Bears, who can focus on their new franchise quarterback, and Fields, who gets a fresh start.
  • 🎯 The Bears' trade could also impact their draft strategy, potentially allowing them to focus on other positions like offensive line or wide receiver.
  • 📉 The perceived drop in value for Fields, going from a high draft pick to a sixth-rounder, reflects the volatility of the quarterback market in the NFL.

Q & A

  • Which team is trading quarterback Justin Fields?

    -The Chicago Bears are trading Justin Fields.

  • Which team is Justin Fields being traded to?

    -Justin Fields is being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

  • What is the reported return for the Chicago Bears in this trade?

    -The Bears are reportedly getting a sixth-round pick that becomes a fourth-rounder based on playing time.

  • Who is considered the favorite candidate to go to Chicago with the number one overall pick?

    -Quarterback Caleb Williams is considered the favorite candidate to go to Chicago.

  • What was the previous position of Kenny Pickett before being traded?

    -Kenny Pickett was last year's starter for the Steelers before being traded to the Eagles.

  • What does the Steelers' quarterback room look like after these recent trades?

    -The Steelers' quarterback room now includes Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, with Wilson reportedly set as the starter.

  • How much are the Steelers expected to pay for both starting quarterbacks combined?

    -The Steelers are expected to pay less than $5 million combined for both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

  • What is the significance of the trade for Justin Fields?

    -The trade provides Justin Fields with a fresh start and the opportunity to potentially be a starting quarterback in Pittsburgh.

  • What is the potential draft strategy for the Chicago Bears with the number one overall pick?

    -The Bears may look to draft an offensive lineman, defensive edge rusher, or wide receiver, but the exact strategy will depend on their evaluation of available talent.

  • How might the new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, impact the Steelers' offense?

    -Arthur Smith is expected to improve the Steelers' offense, potentially focusing on better utilizing the run game and improving the overall offensive strategy.

  • What is the general sentiment towards the trade for the Steelers?

    -The trade is generally seen as positive for the Steelers, as they acquire two starting-caliber quarterbacks for a relatively low cost and potentially improve their offense.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 NFL Trade Breakdown: Justin Fields to Steelers

The Chicago Bears have traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, as reported by NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. In return, the Bears are set to receive a sixth-round pick that could escalate to a fourth-rounder based on Fields' playing time, according to ESPN. This move comes as the Bears hold the number one overall pick and are expected to select quarterback Caleb Williams. Fields' trade to Pittsburgh also follows the recent acquisition of Russell Wilson by the Steelers and the trade of last year's starter, Kenny Pickett, to the Eagles. The Steelers' quarterback room is undergoing significant changes, and this trade could have substantial implications for both teams' strategies going forward.

05:00

đŸ€” Evaluating the Fields Trade: Implications and Future Outlook

The trade of Justin Fields to the Steelers for a conditional pick reflects the NFL's assessment of his value, with the price having dropped significantly from a potential second-round pick to a sixth-rounder. All the quarterbacks from the 2021 draft class, except Trevor Lawrence, have now been traded, highlighting the volatility of the quarterback market. For the Bears, this trade avoids a potential logjam with Fields and Williams, while Fields gets a fresh start in Pittsburgh. The Steelers now have two promising quarterbacks, potentially offering an upgrade over Kenny Pickett, even if marginal. The trade is seen as a positive move for both teams, with the Steelers securing two starting-caliber quarterbacks for a relatively low cost. The future of the Steelers' quarterback room remains fluid, with reports suggesting Russell Wilson will be the number one quarterback, but the exact outcomes will depend on how the situation evolves.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡NFL

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). It is the highest professional level of American football in the world and is considered the premier professional sports league in the United States. In the context of the video, the NFL is the setting for the discussed trades and team strategies.

💡Justin Fields

Justin Fields is an American football quarterback who, at the time of the video, was part of the Chicago Bears. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers as per the breaking news in the video. Fields is noted for his athleticism and strong arm, but his performance within the pocket was mentioned as an area for improvement.

💡Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and are part of the NFL's AFC North division. Known for their rich history and successful performance, the team is featured in the video discussing their recent trades and quarterback changes, including the acquisition of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.

💡Trade

In the context of professional sports, a trade involves the exchange of players or draft picks between teams. Trades are strategic decisions made to improve a team's performance, address roster needs, or manage salary caps. In the video, trades are the key subject, with specific focus on the movement of quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.

💡Quarterback

A quarterback (QB) is the leader of the offense in American football and is responsible for calling plays, receiving the snap, and either handing the ball off to a running back, throwing the ball, or running with it themselves. The position is often considered the most important on the team due to its central role in the game. In the video, the quarterback position and the performance of specific QBs like Justin Fields and Russell Wilson are central topics.

💡Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams is an American football quarterback who, at the time of the video, was considered a top prospect in college football and a potential high draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. His inclusion in the video suggests that he is a player of interest for the Chicago Bears, who hold the number one overall pick.

💡Draft Pick

A draft pick is the right to select a player from a college or another football league during the NFL Draft. Teams are given draft picks based on the previous year's performance, with worse-performing teams getting higher picks. Draft picks are valuable assets that can be traded between teams, as seen with the trade involving Justin Fields.

💡Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson is an American football quarterback known for his time with the Seattle Seahawks and, at the time of the video, his recent signing with the Denver Broncos. His mention in the video relates to the significant changes in the quarterback landscape and the potential impact of his move on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

💡Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith is an American football coach who, at the time of the video, was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and previously the Titans' offensive coordinator. His name is brought up in the context of potentially helping Justin Fields improve his pocket presence and overall game as the new offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

💡Roster

In sports, a roster refers to the list of players officially signed to a team. It includes all the athletes who are eligible to play in games and represents the team's active personnel. The video discusses the Steelers' roster changes, particularly in the quarterback position, as a result of trades and signings.

💡Salary Cap

The salary cap is a limit on the amount of money that a professional sports league team can spend on player salaries for a given year. It is designed to promote competitive balance by controlling player costs. In the video, the salary cap is relevant when discussing the cost-effectiveness of having two starting-caliber quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on the Steelers' roster.

Highlights

Chicago Bears trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Steelers

Trade information reported by senior NFL Insider Jonathan Jones

Bears receiving a sixth round pick that becomes a fourth rounder based on playing time

Bears holding the number one overall pick, with quarterback Caleb Williams as the favorite

Fields joining Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh after Wilson's signing

Steelers trading last year's starter Kenny Pickett to the Eagles

New quarterback room in Pittsburgh with Fields and Wilson

Bears' clear intention to pick Caleb Williams at number one

Steelers' recent significant roster changes including trading Kenny Pickett and Deontay Johnson

Russell Wilson reportedly the starter for the Steelers

Fields and Wilson on the same team, a significant shift from their previous trajectories

Pittsburgh's low cost for two starting caliber quarterbacks

Potential for a quarterback competition between Wilson and Fields

The volatility of the quarterback market as evidenced by Fields' trade value

Bears benefit from not having Fields and Williams together, focusing on their new franchise QB

Steelers' opportunity to maximize Fields' abilities in a new environment

The trade graded as an A+ for the Steelers, acquiring two quarterbacks for a low cost

Steelers' potential for a more competitive team with new offensive and defensive changes

The evolving quarterback situation in Pittsburgh post-Ben Roethlisberger

Transcripts

00:01

we got some breaking news out of the NFL

00:02

the Chicago Bears are trading

00:04

quarterback Justin fields to the

00:07

Steelers this according to senior NFL

00:09

Insider Jonathan Jones in return the

00:12

Bears reportedly getting a sixth round

00:14

pick that becomes a fourth rounder based

00:16

on playing time that is per ESPN the

00:19

move comes with the Bears holding the

00:20

number one overall pick and quarterback

00:23

Caleb Williams considered the favorite

00:24

candidate to go to Chicago Fields joins

00:28

uh Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh Wilson

00:30

signed with the Steelers earlier this

00:32

week Pittsburgh also traded last year's

00:34

starter Kenny picket to the Eagles so we

00:37

got a new quarterback room in Steel

00:41

City and let's welcome in CBS Sports NFL

00:44

Rider Ryan Wilson fields to the Steelers

00:47

after Russell Wilson is going to

00:49

Pittsburgh what do you make of this move

00:52

for the Bears point of view and from the

00:54

Steelers point of

00:57

view well in terms of the Bears Russ

00:59

what they're going to do it's it's quite

01:00

clear you touched on a kaya Williams

01:01

going to be the guy number one they pick

01:03

again at number nine and we'll see what

01:04

happens there whether it's offensive

01:05

lineman defensive Edge rusher or wide

01:08

receiver but for the Steelers uh it's

01:10

been a lot of moving and shaking over

01:11

the last 48 hours or so you mentioned

01:14

Kenny picket was traded uh the reports

01:16

coming out of Pittsburgh is that he he

01:17

wasn't excited about the idea of sharing

01:19

reps with Russell Wilson it goes back to

01:21

week 17 of the regular season where he

01:24

opted not to dress uh after Mason

01:27

Rudolph was named the starter and Kenny

01:28

picket was returning from injury and it

01:30

sounds like it's snowball from there the

01:32

the quarterback they drafted two years

01:33

ago to be the franchise at number 20

01:35

overall is now in Philadelphia as a

01:38

backup there and the Steelers aren't

01:40

messing around they moved on from

01:41

Deontay Johnson the wide receiver as

01:43

well they traded him to Carolina which

01:44

needed some wide receiver help in return

01:46

they got Dante Jackson the cornerback

01:48

which feels a need on the roster in

01:50

Pittsburgh after moving on from Patrick

01:51

Peterson and now you have Russell Wilson

01:54

who according to reports appears to be

01:56

the starter we'll see uh we have yet to

01:58

have the draft and then just Fields who

02:00

has one year left on his rookie deal

02:02

they're going to be paying peanuts a

02:03

combined 4 million in change it sounds

02:05

like for both quarterbacks uh who here's

02:08

the crazy thing about the NFL Russ if

02:10

you go back to when Justin Fields was

02:12

drafted in the top 15 and when Russ

02:13

Wilson signed that huge deal with Denver

02:15

a few years ago and if I came to you

02:17

from the future and said hey man in two

02:18

years the Russell Wilson's and the

02:20

Justin fields are going to be in the

02:21

Steelers you would ask me what could

02:22

have possibly happen to get us to this

02:24

point uh it turns out things didn't go

02:26

well for us and things didn't go great

02:28

for Justin either but they get fresh

02:29

starts in Pittsburgh uh a team that now

02:33

has two exciting quarterbacks

02:34

potentially going in different

02:35

directions in terms of their age uh but

02:38

it's certainly different than what was

02:39

to start the season a year ago with

02:42

let's see here kitty picket Mitchell

02:44

trais and of course Mason Rudolph all

02:47

now on different teams than Pittsburgh

02:49

you know you mentioned how relatively

02:51

little the Steelers are going to pay for

02:52

two starting quarterbacks they're only

02:54

responsible for the league minimum

02:56

portion of Russell Wilson's deal the

02:58

rest of which is going to be picked up

02:59

by his old team the Denver Broncos I can

03:03

almost guarantee you that they're going

03:05

to say it's a quarterback competition

03:07

going into this I would think that's

03:08

what's going to come out of of

03:10

Pittsburgh how realistic of a chance

03:12

though do you think Justin Fields has to

03:14

overtake Russell Wilson considering that

03:16

it's not like they're dumping money if

03:18

if Russ can't go number

03:21

one yeah it feels like it should be a

03:23

wide open competition I only hesitate

03:25

because Jerry duck the longtime beat

03:27

reporter out of Pittsburgh uh sent out

03:29

tweet not too long ago saying that Russ

03:31

is going to be the number one as we sit

03:33

here but again it's the middle of March

03:34

a lock and Chains No One thought that

03:36

Mason Rudolph would finish the season

03:37

last year for the Pittsburgh Steelers

03:39

and not only finish the season but be

03:40

the best quarterback on that roster so

03:42

given the way Russell played the last

03:43

two years in Denver and last year was a

03:44

little better than the year before

03:46

granted and given the upside that we've

03:49

been talking about Justin fields for

03:50

years now it feels like it should be a

03:51

wideopen competition there are things

03:53

that those quarterbacks do well and

03:55

there are things that those quarterbacks

03:56

struggle with so we'll have to see how

03:58

this plays out in Arthur Smith offense

04:00

the new offensive coordinator taking up

04:01

from Matt Canada Smith of course was a

04:03

longtime head coach in Atlanta prior to

04:05

that being the Titans offensive

04:06

coordinator he feels like a better OC

04:08

right now in his NFL Journey than head

04:10

coach and I think he has an opportunity

04:12

uh to get this offense back to where it

04:14

was before Matt Canada was in the mixed

04:16

colum plays now they don't have Deontay

04:18

Johnson so there's a very good chance to

04:20

pick 20 they can look at wide receiver

04:22

there's also a better chance they look

04:24

at offensive line so now you have last

04:25

year's first round pick and brri Jones

04:27

playing left tackle you could draft his

04:29

teammate of Marius Mims uh if he's

04:31

available the guard The Tackle out of

04:33

Georgia to play on the right side and

04:35

now you're protecting Russ Andor Justin

04:37

Fields you're going to have a run game

04:38

that Arthur Smith's can to be very

04:40

interested in using that stars na Harris

04:42

and Jaylen Warren and suddenly this

04:44

offense looks a lot different than it

04:45

did a year ago the defense should be

04:47

fine it all starts for TJ wide but maybe

04:50

this team is going to be more

04:51

competitive than it was last year when

04:53

it surprised a lot of people won 10

04:54

games and made its way into the playoffs

04:56

tough division too when you consider the

04:58

other quarterbacks around the division

05:00

as well what do you make of the return

05:01

here we're talking about a sixth round

05:03

pick that could go as high as a fourth

05:05

round pick based on playing

05:07

time are you surprised at all by by how

05:09

little or or does just seem about

05:13

right Russ I'm not surprised now if

05:16

you'd asked this a week ago I would have

05:17

been shocked because I I spoke to to

05:20

Brian mcfaden our guy CB Sports HQ who

05:23

also played for the Steelers won two

05:24

Super Bowls and I said what how does it

05:26

sound for a second round pick and maybe

05:28

some change for Justin fields and I had

05:30

this conversation with him a week ago on

05:31

air and he said yeah that sounds about

05:32

right and here we are fast forward 7 to

05:35

10 days and the price of Poker has gone

05:37

all the way down to a sixth round pick

05:39

that maybe becomes a fourth round pick

05:41

in 2025 based on playing time and I

05:43

think that tells you how the league felt

05:45

about Justin fields and Justin Fields

05:47

came out he was the fourth quarterback

05:48

taken in that draft class of five that

05:50

went in the first round starting with

05:51

Trevor Lawrence and ending with M Jones

05:54

uh all of those quarterbacks not named

05:55

Trevor Lawrence are now on different

05:56

teams which tells you how uh volatile

05:59

the quarterback marking can be but I

06:00

think the NFL made it clear that Justin

06:02

Fields was not worth a second round pick

06:03

or a third or a fourth or a fifth and it

06:05

took a six round pick and clear that's a

06:08

roster in the quarterback room for

06:09

Pittsburgh uh for an opportunity for

06:11

Justin fields to move on from Chicago

06:13

but this is good news for the Bears and

06:15

that they don't have to worry about

06:16

having Justin fields and Caleb Williams

06:17

in the building together uh as they move

06:19

forward with their franchise quarterback

06:21

it's good news for Justin Fields getting

06:22

a fresh start and maybe the Steelers can

06:24

get the most out of his abilities and as

06:26

you point out just a moment ago Russ it

06:28

now comes down to who wins this

06:29

quarterback battle uh in Pittsburgh

06:32

where the it's crazy because Big Ben was

06:34

there from 2004 to just a few years ago

06:37

Kenny picket didn't work out and now the

06:39

Steelers are looking for uh their next

06:41

starting quarterback in that post big

06:42

bin world and it could be Russ it could

06:44

be Justin or who knows maybe they draft

06:46

the quarterback at 20 and there's a

06:47

third third name in the mix as well well

06:49

only time will'll tell what comes of

06:51

this trade but for the time being Ryan

06:53

going to ask you to grade this

06:56

trade oh this is an A+ so you get Russ

07:00

Wilson and Steelers fans are coming

07:01

around to talking themselves into into

07:03

Russell being the guy he is an upgrade

07:04

Over Kenny picket even if it's a

07:05

marginal upgrade and look they're holing

07:07

in this game no doubt about it but now

07:09

you bring in Justin Fields who does all

07:11

the things you want a Young quarterback

07:13

in the NFL to do he's incredibly

07:14

athletic he has a big arm he can do a

07:16

lot of things in space he has to get

07:18

better inside the pocket and maybe

07:19

that's something Arthur Smith can help

07:20

him with but the price the 1.2 million

07:23

for one year for Russell the six round

07:25

pick that maybe becomes a fourth based

07:27

on playing time for Justin those feel

07:28

like layup UPS uh very rarely you can

07:31

get two starting caliber quarterbacks on

07:33

your on your roster for less than $5

07:34

million combined and the Steelers have

07:36

done that in 2024 so I think you have to

07:38

feel good about it and you could argue

07:39

that both these quarterbacks are an

07:40

upgrade Over Kenny picket even if it's

07:42

at the margins but that's that's a step

07:44

in the right directions for Steelers

07:45

fans many of whom have become frustrated

07:47

with the lack of quarterback play and

07:49

and how the offense was called with the

07:51

previous offensive coordinator so give

07:53

Omar Khan that the general manager

07:54

credit give Mike tman the head coach

07:56

credit for realizing the mistakes have

07:58

been made and moving on from those

07:59

mistakes instead of Leaning into them

08:01

which it felt like in years past R said

08:03

the team was sometimes stubborn to to to

08:04

go forward in the face of mistakes this

08:07

year feels completely different and I

08:09

think this team is going to look

08:10

completely different on the opposite

08:12

side of the ball for sure and as these

08:14

uh these stories continue to evolve as

08:17

breaking news happens we're now learning

08:19

that the Steelers are coming out and it

08:21

looks like Russell Wilson will be the

08:23

number one quarterback in that QB room

08:25

going in but of course all of these

08:27

things are evolving as we go it's a

08:29

fluid situation that's why we thank Ryan

08:31

Wilson our CBS Sports NFL Ridder for

08:33

joining us is Justin Fields is going to

08:36

be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers

08:38

according to our Jonathan Jones and you

08:40

can hear more from Ryan along with Rick

08:43

Spielman they've got the with the first

08:45

pick podcast which makes total sense to

08:47

be listening to all the time right now

08:50

as we get ready for the NFL draft of

08:52

course this move will portend to a lot

08:55

what happens at the top of the NFL draft

08:58

with the Chicago Bears

08:59

who are on the clock with the number one

09:01

overall pickets with the first pick

09:03

podcast Brian Wilson and Rick Spielman

09:05

download And subscribe wherever you

09:08

[Music]

09:27

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