Bears ‘trade Justin Fields to Steelers for a late-round pick’: Chicago clears path to take a quarterback with the first pick of NFL Draft as ex-Ohio State star prepares to battle Russell Wilson for playing time in Pittsburgh

The Chicago Bears have reportedly traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers after weeks of speculation.

The Bears will receive a sixth-round pick that converts to a fourth-round pick depending on Fields’ playing time in Pittsburgh, where the former Ohio State star will battle newly acquired Russell Wilson for playing time. Wilson recently signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh for the veteran’s minimum after being released by the Denver Broncos, who still owe the former Seattle Seahawks star $39 million.

Fields was widely viewed as expendable after the Bears landed the No. 1 pick in next month’s NFL Draft, where they are expected to select a quarterback.

The return for Fields isn’t much, considering the Bears picked him 11th overall just three years ago.

Since then, the athletic Georgia native has thrown 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, while rushing for another 14 scores. The Bears went 10-28 in games in which he started, but were in no rush to trade him after missing the playoffs in 2023.

Instead, the Bears held on to Fields while continuing to evaluate top quarterback prospects, including USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.