Bears reportedly trade Justin Fields to Steelers in a 'stunner' | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

NFL on NBC

16 Mar 202407:13

Summary

TLDRIn a surprising turn of events, the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, signaling a major shift in their quarterback strategy. Wilson, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, was signed for $1.21 million, while Fields, a promising young talent, was traded for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. This bold move by the Steelers could potentially transform their offense, as new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will have the opportunity to utilize both players' unique skill sets. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears' decision to trade Fields for a relatively low draft pick has raised eyebrows, as many expected a higher return for the talented quarterback.

Takeaways

🏈 Justin Fields has been traded from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking a significant move in the NFL.
🤔 The trade for Fields involves a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, which is considered a low-cost investment for the Steelers.
🔄 The Steelers recently made several quarterback changes, including trading Kenny Pickett, letting Mason Rudolph sign elsewhere, and cutting Mitch Trubisky after the Super Bowl.
🏆 Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, has also joined the Steelers for $1.21 million, alongside Fields.
💡 The combination of Wilson and Fields could lead to innovative offensive strategies for the Steelers, potentially using Fields in specialty packages similar to how Cordell Stewart was utilized in 1995.
🤷‍♂️ The Bears' decision to trade Fields for a sixth-round pick within the division has raised questions about their strategy.
🤝 The Steelers' new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, has a lot of options with both Wilson and Fields on the roster, which could lead to a dynamic offense.
🚀 The Steelers' moves signal a significant shift from their usual approach and a major commitment to improving their quarterback position.
🏆 The potential of both Wilson and Fields playing together could make the Steelers a formidable team in the AFC North for the 2024 season.
🌟 The Bears, with new additions like Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and DeAndre Swift, plus the possible acquisition of Caleb Williams, could become a strong team in the near future.

Q & A

Which team did Justin Fields move to from the Chicago Bears?
-Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What was the reported condition for the trade of Justin Fields?
-The trade involved a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick.
How much did the Steelers invest in Russell Wilson compared to Justin Fields in terms of financial commitment?
-Russell Wilson is making $39 million, while Justin Fields is expected to earn around $5 million this year, including bonuses.
What is the significance of the Steelers' acquisition of both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields?
-The move signifies a major shift in the Steelers' strategy, as they are typically not known for such aggressive moves in the quarterback market. It also indicates their commitment to improving their offense to match their championship-caliber defense.
What historical comparison was made in the script regarding Justin Fields' potential usage?
-The script compared Justin Fields' potential usage to how the Steelers used Cordell Stewart in 1995, suggesting that Fields could be utilized in specialty packages to put stress on the defense.
What was the critique of the Bears' handling of the trade involving Justin Fields?
-The critique was that the Bears should have held onto Fields to potentially get more value in the draft, especially if a team looking for a quarterback did not get their first choice. The Bears were seen as not maximizing Fields' trade value.
Which other teams were mentioned as potential suitors for Justin Fields?
-The Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings were mentioned as teams that could have been interested in trading for Fields.
What was the reaction to the Steelers' acquisition of both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields?
-The reaction was one of surprise and disbelief, as it was considered a major coup for the Steelers and a significant departure from their usual approach to team management.
What was the speculation about the future of the Bears after trading Fields?
-There was speculation that the Bears might become a formidable force with new acquisitions like Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and DeAndre Swift, and potentially Caleb Williams, indicating a possible resurgence in the near future.
What was the final comment made by the speaker regarding the Steelers and their AFC North rivals?
-The speaker expressed a sense of fear for the defenses in the AFC North, suggesting that teams should be wary of playing against the Steelers in 2024 due to their strengthened quarterback position with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 Justin Fields Trade to Steelers and Russell Wilson Acquisition

The first paragraph discusses the surprising trade of Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with the acquisition of Russell Wilson. It highlights the Steelers' need for a quarterback after several changes and the low cost of the trade for Fields, a 2025 sixth-round pick. The paragraph also compares the financial investment in Wilson and Fields and speculates on how the Steelers might use Fields in unique ways, similar to how Cordell Stewart was utilized in 1995. The narrative reflects on the Steelers' unexpected moves and the potential for both Wilson and Fields to be on the field simultaneously, providing a wealth of options for the new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith.

05:02

🎲 Steelers' Quarterback Strategy and Bears' Future

The second paragraph continues the discussion on the Steelers' strategy with their new quarterbacks, emphasizing their all-in approach to bolster their offense to match their championship-caliber defense. It also mentions the potential impact on the AFC North and speculates on the possibility of the Bears becoming a formidable team with their new acquisitions, including Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and DeAndre Swift. The paragraph concludes with a tease about the Aaron Rodgers situation and signs off with a personal note on the presenter's experiences and thanks to the audience for their support.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡PFT pm

PFT pm is a special edition of a sports talk show, presumably focused on the NFL. In the context of the script, it is mentioned as the platform where the discussion about the recent quarterback shuffle is taking place. The show seems to be a source of news analysis and commentary, providing insights into the latest developments in professional football.

💡Justin Fields

Justin Fields is a professional American football quarterback who, according to the script, has been traded from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers. This trade is considered a 'stunner' by the speaker, indicating it was unexpected and significant.

💡Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are part of the NFL and are mentioned in the script as the team that has acquired both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, indicating a significant overhaul of their quarterback position.

💡Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson is a well-known professional American football quarterback who has won a Super Bowl and is considered a potential Hall of Famer. In the context of the script, Wilson has been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is a significant event given his stature and past performance.

💡Conditional 2025 sixth round pick

A 'conditional 2025 sixth round pick' refers to a future draft choice in the 2025 NFL Draft, where the selection is dependent on certain conditions being met. In this case, it is the price the Steelers paid to acquire Justin Fields, which is described as 'nothing', indicating that it is considered a low-cost investment.

💡Cordell Stewart

Cordell Stewart, also known as Neil O'Donnell, is a former NFL quarterback. In the script, he is brought up as a historical example of a dual-threat quarterback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1995. The speaker suggests that Justin Fields could play a similar role, using his abilities both as a passer and a runner to stress the defense.

💡Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith is mentioned as the new offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His role is significant as he will be responsible for devising strategies and plays that could potentially involve both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on the field simultaneously, adding a layer of complexity and intrigue to the team's offensive plans.

💡Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are an NFL team based in Chicago, Illinois. In the context of the script, they are the original team of Justin Fields, whom they traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The speaker criticizes the Bears for not maximizing the value of their trade asset, suggesting they could have received more than a conditional 2025 sixth round pick.

💡Draft pick

A 'draft pick' is a player selection in the NFL Draft, through which teams choose eligible college football players to join their rosters. The script mentions the concept in relation to the trade of Justin Fields, emphasizing the perceived low value of the pick given up by the Bears in return for Fields.

💡Salary cap

The 'salary cap' in the NFL is a limit on the amount of money a team can spend on player salaries for a given year. It is a crucial aspect of team management and strategy, as it affects the ability to sign and retain players. In the script, the speaker mentions the financial investment in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, highlighting the importance of managing within the salary cap constraints.

💡All-in

The phrase 'all-in' is used to describe a situation where someone is fully committed or invested in a particular course of action. In the context of the script, it refers to the Pittsburgh Steelers' aggressive approach to improving their team, particularly at the quarterback position, by acquiring both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

Highlights

Special edition of PFT pm on a Saturday night discussing major NFL transactions.

Justin Fields traded from the Chicago Bears to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Steelers' surprising trade for Justin Fields after recent quarterback changes.

Fields acquired for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, considered a low price.

Steelers also signed Russell Wilson for $1.21 million, a significant investment.

Comparison of the Steelers' acquisitions to other teams' strategies.

Speculation on how Russell Wilson and Justin Fields might compete and coexist on the Steelers.

Historical reference to the 1995 Steelers and the use of dual-threat quarterbacks.

Discussion on the potential offensive strategies with Fields and Wilson for the Steelers.

Critique of the Bears' handling of the Fields trade and potential missed opportunities.

Mention of the Bears' other acquisitions, including Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and DeAndre Swift.

Prediction of a possible Super Bowl matchup between the Steelers and Bears in the future.

Commentary on the Steelers' unexpected aggressive moves in the quarterback market.

Allusion to the potential impact of the Steelers' moves on the AFC North division.

Reflection on the week's surprising NFL transactions beyond the Steelers and Bears.

Closing remarks and thanks to the audience for watching PFT pm.