Sam Howell trade has major implications for Chicago Bears

The Seattle Seahawks have been rumored as a potential landing spot for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

While the Seahawks have committed to Geno Smith being on the team's roster for the 2024 season, there had been speculation that Seattle could look to bring a quarterback as competition for Smith.

The Seahawks have indeed added a quarterback but it wasn't Fields as the team acquired former Washington Commanders starting quarterback Sam Howell.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will not be headed to the Seattle Seahawks.

The move major implications for the Bears.

First and foremost, the trade of Howell confirms that the Commanders will be selecting a quarterback with the second overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. At the start of the off-season, the Commanders were heavily rumored to be the team trading up with the Bears in order to secure the rights to take Caleb Williams. With the Bears now looking likely to select Williams, the Commanders will have their choice of the next-best quarterback prospect.

This is likely the structure of the type of trade that the Bears are looking to complete in a potential trade of Fields. Where it becomes difficult for the Bears is that any team acquiring Fields would need to make an immediate decision on Fields' fifth-year option. With the likelihood that Fields will serve as a backup quarterback with his next team, the Bears do not have a great amount of leverage in these trade discussions.

Fans will need to squint now in terms of finding the best fit for Fields. The Denver Broncos are a team that could be in the market to trade for a starting quarterback but considering Sean Payton's irritability with Russell Wilson's improvisation last season, Fields likely is not their first choice.

More Chicago Bears News