Cincinnati Bengals’ Star Receiver Tee Higgins Trade Value Plummets After First Week of 2024 Free Agency

A new report Sunday afternoon is pushing the narrative that the Chicago Bears took a hit in draft capital to trade Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the 2021 first-round draft pick’s request. On Saturday evening, the Bears traded Fields to the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick.

If Fields plays 51 percent of the Steelers offense snaps in the upcoming season, Pittsburgh will send Chicago a 2025 fourth-round pick. The Bears didn’t receive as much for Fields as they had expected in February when they thought Fields would fetch at least a Day 2 draft pick.

According to Courtney Cronin with ESPN, on Saturday evening, the Bears left an offer on the table for Fields that would have given them better draft compensation than what the Steelers did when they agreed to the trade. The report is a big talking point in Bears circles because it means general manager Ryan Poles took a worse deal for the Bears and helped the Steelers.

Ian Rapoport with the NFL Network is backing up Cronin’s report. Four additional teams talked to the Bears about trading for Fields. However, Fields’ representation wanted him traded to the Steelers. Rapoport is claiming the Bears “did right” by Fields.