With each passing day, the likelihood of the Chicago Bears trading quarterback Justin Fields appears to be increasing. This sentiment is widely shared among many insiders and sources within the league.

The prevailing belief is that the Bears will use their first pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams, signaling a shift into a new era for the team.

The remaining questions revolve around the timing of Fields’ trade and the compensation the Bears will receive in return for his services. Some NFL insiders have suggested that the Atlanta Falcons could be a potential destination for Fields, anticipating that the Bears would secure a significant return for the talented quarterback.

However, one concern raised by some analysts is the availability of teams with late first-round picks, as most of them already have their quarterback situations sorted out. For instance, if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-sign Baker Mayfield, who they hold the 26th pick, the next team with a late first-round pick would be the Pittsburgh Steelers at no. 20 overall.

The question arises: Is the 20th pick too high a price for a team to pay for Fields? Could we see a scenario where a team like Atlanta trades back into the late first round or moves up from the second round to acquire him? While this remains speculative, it underscores the belief held by a well-connected NFL insider that the Bears could command a first-round pick in exchange for Fields.

“It’s my understanding that Fields, at this point, probably commands a late first-round pick. So you can get real value for him.”

It’s worth noting that earlier reports had suggested the Bears might only receive a second or third-round pick in exchange for Justin Fields, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, the potential inclusion of a late first-round pick in the trade package would give the Bears three first-round picks, including the top overall selection.

With the NFL Combine set to kick off soon, the Bears could make their decision in the coming weeks, signaling significant developments on the horizon for the team and its quarterback situation.

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