The Atlanta Falcons appear to be still looking for a long-term solution to their quarterback puzzle, and Chicago Bears signal-caller Justin Fields might be on their radar.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, there are some questions about the 24-year-old’s potential fit with the Falcons, although there is also some optimism that Atlanta could maximize his talents if it does succeed in bringing him in.
“The major quarterback domino that many are waiting to fall is Chicago’s Justin Fields decision,” wrote Fowler. “Chicago has not played its hand, and several league sources believe Fields — who has not requested a trade — could probably garner a Day 2 pick in a potential deal. There’s no firm deadline on a trade, though the start of free agency is sort of a soft one. Chicago will need multiple teams in the fray to drive a market, and after asking around, I expect Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and Minnesota to be on the radar.
“There’s plenty of smoke around Atlanta and Fields. Some around the league are wondering about the fit, thinking a [Los Angeles] Rams-influence offense under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson could target a [Kirk] Cousins-style quarterback, while others say Fields’ immense talent will be maximized in that scheme. As one league source put it, Atlanta has done enough work on Fields, Cousins and Baker Mayfield that the chances of coming away with one of them are fairly good.”
Fields has had an uneven professional career so far. After the Bears drafted him with the 11th overall pick of the 2021 draft, it didn’t take long for him to seize the starting quarterback spot.
With previous starter Andy Dalton sustaining an injury in Week 2 of the 2021 season, the Ohio State University product was named his replacement in the following game. Fields was announced as the starter for the remainder of the campaign shortly after.
He compiled a 2-8 record in his rookie year, completing 159 passes for 1,870 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Georgia native remained Chicago’s starting quarterback in the 2022 season. However, the team continued to be one of the worst in the league, as Fields found it difficult to find his footing as an elite passer.
On a positive note, he rushed for eight touchdowns throughout the campaign and led the NFL in yards per carry with 7.1. He also became just the third quarterback in league history to record at least 1,000 rushing yards (1,143) in a season. The first two to achieve the feat were Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson.
Unfortunately, wins remained scarce for Fields and the Bears, a trend that continued in the 2023 campaign. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if the franchise were to move on from him.
Only time will tell if the Falcons become his next stop. They are rumored to be looking at other options, though, including Cousins and Mayfield.
In the last two years, Atlanta has tried to succeed longtime starting quarterback Matt Ryan with Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke. But none of them have been able to transform the team into a winner. It is likely hoping its answer to its quarterback woes is coming this offseason.
