Justin Fields could be sharing some unwanted company.
No, not just the possibility that he could be stuck uncomfortably on the same roster as Caleb Williams if the Bears do not find a suitable trade offer for Fields before likely drafting Williams to take over as the starting quarterback with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
Fields surprisingly is being lumped into the same quarterback conversation as failed-starters-turned-backups Sam Darnold and Drew Lock in the feedback that the Bears are getting from other teams, according to a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
There were reports earlier in the offseason that the Bears might be able to recoup a second-round draft pick for Fields.
That ship appears to have sailed if teams see Fields as the equal to some of those journeyman free agents.
Darnold, who spent last season as the 49ers backup, is 21-35 with a career 78.3 quarterback rating for the Jets, Panthers and 49ers.
Lock is 9-14 with a 79.5 rating for the Broncos and Seahawks, spending the last two seasons as Geno Smith’s backup after surprisingly losing the 2022 open competition to replace Russell Wilson.
Fields is 10-28 with an 82.3 rating over three seasons as the Bears starter.
But he adds significant value as a runner, with 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground in 40 games.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles wanted to trade Fields before free agency opens Monday for everybody’s best interest but might have to wait to see where Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield and Russell Wilson sign and if any new teams emerge as possible destinations for Fields as the quarterback carousel spins.
If not, he might have to settle for being a backup.
If traded, Fields will be the third of the five first-round quarterbacks from 2021 to be dealt.
Trey Lance was traded from the 49ers to the Cowboys last offseason and Mac Jones was traded from the Patriots to the Jaguars on Sunday.
The Jets are hoping to find a partner to take Zach Wilson and make it four on the move.
Fields’ next team could owe him as much as $3.2 million in 2024, which is a low-end starter or mid-level backup money.
He has a $23.3 million option for 2025 that must be decided on by May.
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