This column is devastating. And it is not even written by Rick Morrissey. What could have been if only Fields had 3 to 5 more years with the Bears....
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/03/16/the-league-confirms-ryan-poles-call-on-justin-fieldsAs it turned out — likely to Poles’ surprise — there was nothing even close to a bidding war for Fields. It’s a bit of a surprising rebuke for such a talented player. Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, fired by the Bears on Jan. 10, was hired by the Raiders as offensive coordinator less than a month later — after also interviewing with the Patriots and Saints. The Patriots were interested in Luke Getsy but not Justin Fields? Wow.
The league didn’t seem to think the Bears’ offense, the
offensive coordinator or the supporting cast was the problem. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who conspicuously disappeared in Getsy’s offense, signed a three-year, $39 million contract ($26 million guaranteed) with the Falcons on Tuesday.
But the NFL has had three years to watch Fields as a starter and saw Gardner Minshew and Sam Darnold as better options.
Fields wasn’t even the most valuable back-up quarterback. The Steelers got a third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks from the Eagles for Kenny Pickett and a fourth-round pick.