Justin Fields Trade Rumors: NFL Execs Predict 2nd or 3rd-Round Pick as Bears' Return

If the Chicago Bears make the move everyone expects by trading Justin Fields before the 2024 NFL draft, they could fetch a solid return for the 24-year-old quarterback.

In a poll of eight NFL team executives and coaches conducted by The Athletic's Jeff Howe, the majority opinion is that Fields would bring back a second or third-round draft pick to the Bears in a trade.

This seems to be a consensus opinion among people in the league.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin noted last week several people around the NFL suggested the Bears could potentially land two picks for Fields, one in the second round and one in the fourth.

Even though the Bears may not have been thinking about this at the time, their acquisition of Montez Sweat during the 2023 season could turn out to be a very calculated move. They traded their second-round pick in the 2024 draft to the Washington Commanders for the 27-year-old.

They currently have two of the first nine picks in the first round, but won't pick again until No. 75 overall in the third round. Trading Fields for a second-rounder would allow them to recoup the pick they gave up for Sweat.

Sweat, who signed a four-year, $98 million extension after the trade, looks like a potential stud pass-rusher that the Bears have been looking for. He had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in eight games after the trade.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles is trying his best to convince everyone there's a scenario in which Fields doesn't get traded, but it's hard to believe that when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Feb. 11 they would need a "historic haul of draft picks and overall compensation" to trade the No. 1 pick.

Fields is a tantalizing trade target for teams seeking a quarterback. He's had flashes of brilliance, including running for 1,143 yards during the 2022 season, but week-to-week consistency has been elusive for the Ohio State alum.

He did set career-highs in passing yards (2,562) and completion percentage (61.4) in 13 starts last season.