The current expectation is that the Chicago Bears will select quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If the Bears have settled on Williams as their next face of the franchise, current starting quarterback Justin Fields will be traded before April's draft marks its arrival.
Fields arguably enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2023. The former Ohio State standout threw for personal highs in yards (2,562) and 16 touchdowns with a career-low nine interceptions and 10 fumbles. Fields would garner intrigue from QB-needy teams if the Bears intend to trade him.
The Bears (or Fields' next organization) must decide on executing or declining his fifth-year option this offseason. While that wrinkle somewhat complicates negotiations, a team acquiring Fields would likely offer him a two-year window to prove he's a legitimate franchise quarterback. We've identified three potential landing spots for Fields.
ATLANTA FALCONS
New Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is tasked with finding a starting quarterback. Relying on mid-round rookies (Desmond Ridder) and bridge-type veterans (Marcus Mariota and Taylor Heinicke) is largely what got Arthur Smith fired. Morris must avoid making the same mistake.
Unless general manager Terry Fontenot gets uber-aggressive on draft weekend, the Falcons, who own the No. 8 overall pick, aren't really within striking distance of drafting a premium quarterback. They'll have to get creative when searching for Ridder's replacement. The Bears make a perfect trade partner, and Atlanta has a supporting cast in place that could benefit Fields. It's easy to envision Fields having success with weapons like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts at his disposal.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Sorting through what the Vikings will do at quarterback this offseason isn't straightforward. Veteran starter Kirk Cousins is scheduled for unrestricted free agency. The Vikings have seemingly been preparing to replace Cousins after allowing him to play out the final year of his contract in 2023. A season-ending injury further complicated matters, but Cousins will be greeted with interest if his services reach the open market.
Jaren Hall isn't the long-term answer in Minnesota. Will the Vikings re-sign Cousins or reach for a quarterback like J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix with the No. 11 overall selection? Trading for a quarterback like Fields, who still has untapped potential, offers general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah an alternative route.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The Jimmy Garoppolo experience did not pay dividends in Las Vegas. Josh McDaniels was the decision-maker who championed Garoppolo. With McDaniels no longer in place, new Raiders general manager Tom Telesco will almost certainly replace Garoppolo this offseason. Telesco must then find his head coach Antonio Pierce a starting quarterback.
Fourth-round rookie Aidan O'Connell performed admirably all things considered, but the Raiders should aim higher. After initially planning to hire Kliff Kingsbury, Pierce officially appointed Luke Getsy as his new offensive coordinator. Getsy spent the previous two seasons as Fields' offensive coordinator and play-caller in Chicago. I thought the two flashed real growth this past season, particularly down the stretch when Fields arguably played the best football of his career. Quickly reuniting Fields with Getsy could make sense for the Raiders.
