Justin Fields trade grades: Steelers earn high mark after acquiring QB from Bears for 2025 sixth-round pick

As quickly as as soon as extra, the Pittsburgh Steelers have fleeced the Chicago Bears in a commerce. On Saturday, the Steelers acquired quarterback and former first-round determine Justin Fields from the Bears for a 2025 sixth-round determine, decrease than two years after Pittsburgh traded Chase Claypool to Chicago in change for a determine the Steelers lastly used to draft cornerback Joey Porter Jr. 

After three seasons, the Bears are shifting on from Fields and may definitely use the No. 1 basic determine in April’s draft to select former USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The Steelers will reportedly have Fields once more up Russell Wilson, who’s hoping to reboot his career following two rocky seasons in Denver. Pittsburgh traded former starting quarterback Kenny Pickett to Philadelphia shortly after signing Wilson. 

Beneath are grades for the commerce that capped off a wild first week of NFL free firm. 

Bears 

Six teams inquired about Fields, in response to ESPN, nevertheless the vast majority of these teams envisioned Fields as a backup. The Bears had been hoping to get one factor very similar to what the Jets acquired as soon as they traded Sam Darnold in 2021 to the Panthers (a 2021 sixth-round determine, 2022 second and fourth-round picks) nevertheless wanted to pivot as soon as they weren’t getting the provides that that that they had hoped for. 

Have in mind what Pittsburgh acquired inside the Pickett commerce: a 2024 third-round determine (No. 98 basic) and two 2025 seventh-round picks whereas giving the Eagles Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round determine (No. 120). The reality that the Steelers acquired considerably further for Pickett than the Bears did for Fields is nothing wanting ideas boggling. 

It’s worth noting that determine the Bears acquired on this commerce will improve to a fourth-round determine if Fields performs 51% p.c of Pittsburgh’s offense performs this season, in response to ESPN. Nevertheless with Wilson entrenched as a result of the starter, that will require each an injury to Wilson or Fields altering him for a performance-based motive. 

Grade: D- 

Steelers 

The Steelers will spend decrease than $4.5 million this season for Fields and Wilson. That’s an unbelievable deal for one quarterback, to not point out two. It can proceed to supply the Steelers the pliability to sign further players to their roster having already signed Wilson, linebacker Patrick Queen and safety DeShon Elliott. 

Per week prior to now, Pickett was nonetheless the Steelers’ starting quarterback, as Pittsburgh was busy looking out for his opponents. Successfully, there is not going to be a contest in Pittsburgh now, not with Wilson entrenched as a result of the starter and Fields backing up him. Fields, nonetheless, doesn’t appear to ideas the state of affairs he’s stepping into. He has suggested people since being traded that he is excited for his new beginning, via Sports activities actions Illustrated. 

This was a low-risk switch for Pittsburgh. They gave up little to build up a quarterback who nonetheless has untapped potential. Fields wasn’t organize for achievement in Chicago, however he continued to boost and in 2022 recorded the second-highest dashing full by a quarterback in NFL historic previous for a single season. 

Grade: A