Chicago Bears pick on a new starting quarterback

The Chicago Bears have a massive decision to make when the NFL Draft rolls around in April.

Will they continue to ride with former Ohio State QB Justin Fields who has flashed at times but struggled mightily at others, or use their No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft to select USC dual-threat passer Caleb Williams, or one of the other top signal callers in this year’s class like Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels.

Fields has shown more and more glimpses he can be the player the Bears drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but trade rumors remain more frequent than ever before.

But is his growing field maturity and efficiency making the case for him remaining in Chicago or is it merely bolstering his trade value on the open market?

In a projected trade proposal, first published by FanNation Falcon Report, the Chicago Bears and The Atlanta Falcons would get together and make a swap for Justin Fields that would seem to be beneficial for all parties involved.

That was one possible option, but now there’s a new trade proposal that has Fields going to Atlanta for one of their young playmakers in a package that would be beneficial for both sides.

Chicago Bears Projected To Trade Justin Fields To Atlanta Falcons For Kyle Pitts

In ESPN’s preview guide for the 2024 offseason, Aaron Schatz made “big predictions” for each of the 32 teams and projected the Atlanta Falcons to trade to acquire Fields from the Bears. He also suggested that, in return, Chicago could receive Pitts — the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft — as part of their trade compensation.

“The Falcons will use Kyle Pitts as part of a package to pry quarterback Justin Fields away from the Bears before Chicago uses the No. 1 overall pick on a new starting quarterback,” Schatz wrote in the Falcons’ section.

Belief around the league that the Bears will use the No. 1 overall pick on a new quarterback — likely USC’s Caleb Williams — has continued to build as the NFL Scouting Combine draws nearer. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned in his Senior Bowl notes that “most people I talked to in Mobile expect” the Bears to keep the No. 1 pick.

If the Bears decide to take a quarterback with the pick, though, they will need to figure out what to do with Fields — or, more specifically, which team is willing to make the biggest trade offer for the former Ohio State star. The Falcons could certainly make a compelling case for themselves if they offer up Pitts, but would they do that?

The Atlanta Falcons still have the decision to pick up the 5th-year option on Kyle Pitts, so in that case a trade with the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields wouldn’t happen.

Pitts racked up 1,026 receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl during his rookie season, but he has mostly been a disappointment for the Falcons ever since then. While there are valid criticisms for how Atlanta’s offensive staff has been using him, he has not done enough on his end to live up to the expectations that come with being a top-5 draft pick.