A decision to accept or decline his fifth-year is due May 2, and it cost $22 million

With the 2024 NFL Draft looming, ESPN took some time to look into the situation surrounding Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears.

First, ESPN prefaced their piece on Fields with information regarding his situation, “Fields has one more year left with the Bears on his rookie deal, which will pay him $3.2 million in 2024 and cost $6 million against the cap. A decision on whether to accept or decline his fifth-year option for 2025 is due May 2, and it would cost $22 million,” they wrote.

With a myriad of different options, from keeping Fields to looking to trade him elsewhere, the former Ohio State quarterback’s future has been a hot topic throughout the league. One of the teams who could look to trade for Fields is the Las Vegas Raiders, and that’s where ESPN decided to focus.

“In this scenario, the Raiders offered second-and-seventh-round picks in the 2024 draft for Fields. Champ Kelly, who was their interim GM in the last half of the 2023 season, was with the Bears when they drafted Fields, and although Tom Telesco was hired as general manager, Kelly remains with Las Vegas as assistant GM,” ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez wrote. “Some of this might hinge on how Telesco and whomever the Raiders hire as the offensive coordinator view Fields. But it makes financial sense for the Raiders because Fields — a three-year NFL vet who is younger than rookie Aidan O’Connell — is on his rookie contract and under team control for the next two years.

“Las Vegas needs a long-term answer under center for Antonio Pierce (who had the interim tag removed from his head coach title), and it is likely to move on from expensive vet Jimmy Garoppolo, who didn’t work out after signing with the Raiders last offseason. Fields threw for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdown passes and nine interceptions over 13 games, and he rushed for 657 yards and four scores on the ground.”

So ESPN has the Raiders agreeing to deal their second round pick, along with a seventh round pick for Fields. That’d be enough for the Bears, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, especially with the unique situation they find themselves in.

“Chicago general manager Ryan Poles has repeatedly mentioned the ‘unique’ position the Bears find themselves in this offseason with the No. 1 pick, which they didn’t earn by way of their own record (Carolina’s pick),” Cronin wrote. “The Bears have a chance to insert the top QB in the draft class onto a team that has a solid foundation on offense and one of the league’s top defenses, which could turn them into a contender by next season.

“So while the Bears may or may not want to move on from Fields, if they get an offer like this one — which allows them to recoup an early second-round draft pick — they would have a difficult time saying no.”

Alas, time will tell if the Chicago Bears move on from Justin Fields, and if the Las Vegas Raiders decide to make a move for him. There’s a myriad of options, but ESPN’s deal could definitely work for both sides.