Bears GM Surprised by Limited Interest in Justin Fields Before Steelers Trade

Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles has made a revealing statement regarding the trade market for quarterback Justin Fields. Despite fans' high expectations, the Bears ultimately secured only a conditional sixth-round draft pick for Fields, a considerably lower return than anticipated.

Poles confessed that he too was surprised by the lack of interest from other teams in the market for Fields. He acknowledged that the pool of potential suitors was smaller than expected, with most teams viewing Fields as a backup rather than a starter.

"In the beginning, there were probably teams looking at the draft for quarterback prospects," Poles explained, speaking to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. "On the other end, playoff teams likely had their quarterback situations settled. So, the pool of interested teams was relatively limited."

The Bears had initially aimed to acquire a day two pick for Fields but fell short of their target. Poles emphasized the team's commitment to finding the right fit for Fields, which played a significant role in prioritizing the Pittsburgh Steelers' interest.


While Fields is set to serve as Russell Wilson's backup in Pittsburgh initially, there's speculation that his role may evolve sooner than expected.