Opinion: The Justin Fields Saga and other NFL Free Agent Notes

NFL GMs don't always get it right.

Kirk CousinsPhoto byCreative Commons: All-Pro Reels

The Bears’ Justin Fields saga came to an end this weekend. The Bears traded Fields to the Steelers for a 2025 sixth round draft pick that could turn into a fourth-round pick if Fields takes 51% of the snaps for the Steelers this year. Look for it to be a sixth.

Many fans and NFL pundits took that as a signal that Fields couldn’t cut it and has no value. After all, seemingly lesser talents brought back more in trade value. After all, even Mac Jones went for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft.

Actually, if the Bears are going with Caleb Williams, other teams knew that which drove Fields’ price down. As did the fact that Fields is on the fourth year of is rookie contract and will have to get paid after this season.

Plus, I genuinely think that Bears’ GM, Ryan Poles, wanted to do right by Fields if he could, and the Steelers were deemed the best available option by Poles, and probably Fields. But take a look at some other happenings in NFL free agency.

Kirk Cousins signs with the Atlanta Falcons for $180 million

And I wonder why. I can think of $180 million reasons why Cousins signed, but I'm not sure why the Falcons made the offer. Cousins is 36 years old and is coming off an Achillies injury. Kirk has certainly been a good QB, but not elite. Cousins’ contract has a cap hit of $25 million in 2024, $40 million in 2025 and $57.5 million in 2026.

Here’s what would worry me if I was a Falcons fan. If Fields, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft, is a bust, who drafted him? Ryan Poles, who is currently the Falcons’ senior director of personnel.

Saquon Barkley leaves the Giants for the Eagles

Last season the Giants basically chose to take care of Daniel Jones instead of Saquon which played a role in his departure. That decision hasn’t aged well.

Jones’ contract come with a cap hit of a little over $47 million this season. If the Giants want to move on from Jones, they will have to absorb a cap hit of a little over $22 million in 2025.

Its seems like they could have used Fields.