Chicago Bears Rumors: NFC North rival enters mix for Justin Fields trade

The Chicago Bears have the potential to make the most significant move ahead of the start of the new league year in two weeks.

With the NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, the expectation is that the Bears will trade Justin Fields ahead, taking Caleb Williams as the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Despite rumors across social media that the Atlanta Falcons were the frontrunner to trade for Fields, reports since have suggested the team may pursue Kirk Cousins first before a potential pivot to the current starting quarterback of the Bears.

Cousins is also expected to be pursued by the team he's spent the past three seasons with, the Minnesota Vikings. We could be headed toward a scenario where the loser in the free agency sweepstakes for Cousins will quickly turn toward the Bears and Fields.

As unlikely as it may seem, the Vikings were among the teams listed by Jeremy Fowler in terms of having an interest in Fields. The list included the Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Justin Fields may not be a stranger to the Chicago Bears with his next team.

With Ryan Poles looking to do right by Fields regarding a potential trade, a deal with the Raiders likely can be ruled out. Sure, Poles would not let that preference get in the way of taking the best deal for his current quarterback, but given the strain in the relationship between Fields and new Raiders' offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, the fit may not be there.

The Vikings would be an intriguing fit for Fields as they were a healthy quarterback away from winning last year's NFC North division. With Fields carrying a salary cap hit of just over $6MM for next season, he would allow the Vikings to divert their financial resources elsewhere as opposed to having to pay a veteran like Cousins. The Bears would likely have the Vikings pay a "division rival tax" in any deal with Fields, considering the two would face each other at least twice a season.

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