NFL insider Jason La Canfora tweeted on Wednesday that multiple NFL general managers left the Senior Bowl “fairly convinced” that the Bears will trade Justin Fields.
More than one NFL general manager came away from the Senior Bowl fairly convinced that Justin Fields will be dealt
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) February 15, 2023
To me, Bryce Young is a can’t-miss prospect if he can remain healthy. The only knock evaluators come up with is his size, which is warranted. However, everything he showed at Alabama erased those worries for me. He has a knack for avoiding big hits, similar to Russell Wilson. And once you get past that, he’s elite in most facets of the game. On top of Young sitting right there, Ryan Poles didn’t draft Fields, so the idea the Bears could move him and select Bryce Young isn’t as far-fetched as some might believe.
It’s not an easy decision, though. Fields’ ceiling is astronomical because of his playmaking ability. He led all quarterbacks in the league with 1,143 rushing yards, adding eight scores on the ground. However, his arm is nothing to write home about, posting a 60.4% completion percentage with 17 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
It must be acknowledged that Chicago may have had the worst supporting cast in the league last year. The offensive line was porous, and the skill positions weren’t impressive outside of Darnell Mooney. Those factors should be considered when discussing Fields’ future in Chicago. So, would the Falcons be interested if the Bears decided to spin the tires on a potential trade?
It’s hard to gauge how Atlanta feels about its quarterback situation. Desmond Ridder displays intangibles that every organization wants in its signal callers. He’s poised in the pocket, his confidence is never shaken, and he’s a natural leader. Arthur Blank, Terry Fontenot, and Arthur Smith rave about these qualities. It makes me believe his floor is extremely high. However, his physical attributes are nowhere close to someone like Justin Fields, who possesses athleticism that few can match.
Considering the Falcons’ lack of talent all over the roster, most fans are hesitant to give up draft capital for Fields or any other quarterback. It’s reasonable. Atlanta is just now getting out from underneath the salary cap mess that the former regime created. With an arsenal of draft capital and the second-most cap space in the NFL, the club has a legitimate shot at building a consistent winner in the coming years.
However, when a potential franchise quarterback becomes available, the state of the roster takes a backseat on most occasions. The difference between trading for Justin Fields and Lamar Jackson is the contracts. Both will require a mountain of assets to pry out of their respective cities, but one is on an affordable rookie contract while the other is in line for a market-setting deal.
I’m not sure what the Falcons would think if Fields became available. They had a chance to draft him during the 2021 cycle but chose Kyle Pitts. It’s hard to say how they evaluate the Georgia native. I imagine they’d at least inquire about the price if the situation arose.
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Photographer: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
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