Report: Chicago Bears Could Trade First Pick Or Justin Fields To Atlanta Falcons In Blockbuster Deals
This year’s pre-draft alternatives are favorable for the Chicago Bears. With the overall number one pick in the NFL draft, they get first dibs on USC’s top quarterback prospect Caleb Williams. They also have the ability to get a wealth of talent by selling away their first-round pick.
On the other side of the Bears’ embarrassment of riches, they still have starting quarterback Justin Fields, who showed signs of significant progress last season and of becoming the field leader the front staff anticipated he would be. If they choose Williams, they will be able to trade Fields to a QB-hungry team for a reasonable return.
This seeming win-win situation for Chicago has apparently attracted multiple suitors, with the majority inquiring about the asking price for the top choice, as well as some asking prices for Fields.
However, the Atlanta Falcons are the only team allegedly interested in both trade options.
Atlanta has struggled at quarterback, but the squad is generally very strong on offense. They really need a good quarterback to become a legitimate postseason contender.
The Falcons Want Justin Fields?
In a recent trade proposal, originally reported by FanNation Falcon Report, the Falcons decided to bring the talented Fields on board and immediately insert him into the starting lineup.
According to Falcon Report (citing Sportrac):
“For Fields, the Falcons would trade a second-round pick this year and a 2025 second-round pick with incentives that could turn into a first-round pick ‘based on production and playing time.'”
Young QB of the Future Desmond Ridder was benched several times in favor of Taylor Heinicke, who completed less than 60% of his passes while rating in the 80s. Spotrac writes, “It’s a bleak outlook for an otherwise fairly talented roster that begs for an expensive quick fix this March.”
According to ESPN First Draft’s Mel Kiper Jr., Atlanta would be ready to trade their first pick (overall no. 8) for Fields.
“If you trade Justin Fields to Atlanta, you could get the 8th pick overall, so you could have 1, 8, and [the Bears’ own] 9 and be able recoup a second round pick by trading down with one of those two picks, either 8 or 9, so a lot of maneuverability for the Bears either way, but if it’s me, I’m taking Caleb Williams no. 1 and trading Justin Fields.”
The Falcons REALLY Want Caleb Williams?
On the other hand, the Falcons may be interested in surrendering considerable draft capital for the opportunity to acquire Caleb Williams and make him their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
According to Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, the Falcons will pay a high price for the opportunity to draft Williams this year. He believes the Bears will acquire Atlanta’s 2024 No. 8 pick, their 2025 first-round pick, 2024 second-round pick, 2024 third-round pick, and 2025 second-round pick.
“If the Bears are certain they don’t want a quarterback and believe they can get the guy they want at No. 8 or No. 9, or by packaging those two picks to move back up, and if nothing else is on the table, they could accept nothing more than a future first-round pick and a few Day 2 picks in exchange.
However, other clubs will undoubtedly be interested, and the Bears will rightly drive a hard bargain, as they did last year [in their trade with the Carolina Panthers].”
In a second trade proposal, first discussed on the BFR Podcast (and then re-published on ChicagoBearsHQ.com), the Bears would like to make a deal similar to the Panthers’ transaction in 2023, in which an established experienced star would be packaged with draft picks for the first overall pick.
In this deal, the Bears would trade their first-round pick for the Falcons’ veteran defensive end Grady Jarrett, as well as their eighth-round pick this year, a second-round pick in 2024, and first-round picks in both 2025 and 2026.
All of these suggestions have one thing in common: the Bears would most likely win. And it’s only fair, given that they’ll be in a seller’s market this year.
