Former NFL executive, insider share bleak outlook for Bears' Justin Fields

Former cornerback and current ESPN analyst Domonique Foxworth isn't the only noteworthy member of the NFL community questioning if a team will take a flier on Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields anytime soon. 

"There seems to be not a lot of momentum," former NFL executive Michael Lombardi said about a potential Fields trade during the latest edition of "The GM Shuffle with Michael Lombardi and Femi Abebefe" podcast, as shared by Matt Hladik of The Spun. "I talked to a lot of people that were at the combine and I can't find a team." 

Lombardi added that he believes the Philadelphia Eagles should consider trading for Fields to have him serve as a backup behind Jalen Hurts. Marcus Mariota spent last season as Philadelphia's QB2 but may head elsewhere as soon as when free agency opens next week. 

Additionally, Denver Broncos and NFL insider Benjamin Allbright of KOA 850 AM and 94.1 FM took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to say he thinks Fields will likely have to settle for being "a backup somewhere else this year."

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported during the NFL Scouting Combine last weekend that the trade market is not "quite as robust as the Bears and Justin Fields would like it to be." 

It's widely believed Chicago will make USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft this spring. Whatever team has Fields on its roster will have to decide about his option worth around $25.7M for the 2025 season by the May 2 deadline for such decisions. 

During Thursday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, Foxworth suggested that a club such as the Eagles may be able to get Fields from Chicago for as low as a third-round draft pick after other proven veteran quarterbacks sign with teams in free agency. 

Foxworth also said that Fields "holds onto the ball for a long time" and never "fixed that particular habit" across three NFL seasons. 

The Cleveland Browns repeatedly have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Fields because they run an offense made for dual-threat signal-caller Deshaun Watson. 

Cleveland theoretically could move on from Watson as soon as next winter and could thus view Fields as a project who could potentially start in 2025 if he and the Browns worked out an agreement for beyond the upcoming campaign.