Trade offers for Bears' No. 1 NFL draft pick, Justin Fields

Cronin's Bears spin: We keep hearing the Bears would need "historic" draft compensation to move off the No. 1 pick. To me, the dream scenario would be in line with the haul the Dolphins got in 2021 from the 49ers, who moved up from No. 12 to No. 3 to take QB Trey Lance. Miami picked up three first-round picks and a third-rounder.

I know the Commanders would be moving up only one spot, but given the perception that Williams is in a tier of his own compared to the other QBs in this stacked draft class, I think they would have to either come to the table with more draft capital or add a player like WR Terry McLaurin in the package for Chicago to be swayed. If the Bears move back to No. 2, they would also need to be enamored by Maye or Daniels.

New England Patriots

Yates' trade package: No. 3 pick, 2024 second-round pick (No. 34), 2025 first-round pick

In the 2021 draft, the Patriots stayed patient and landed Mac Jones as the fifth quarterback off the board. But after two straight lackluster seasons from Jones, it's time for a reset. Much like the Washington offer, this would have to be motivated by New England not wanting to settle for the class' QB3.

The price to move to No. 1 is slightly steeper than the hypothetical Commanders offer because the Bears would of course be moving one spot further back. Whereas the Commanders' included second-rounder is No. 40, the Patriots would be giving up the No. 34 selection. It's a pretty big package, and the Pats would have to really like Williams -- or at least heavily prefer two of the signal-callers to the third one. But New England also needs stability under center as coach Jerod Mayo takes over, and it might not be happy to just land any of the top three guys.

Cronin's Bears spin: It's a new day for the New England front office, so I'd be asking for more from director of player personnel/de-facto GM Eliot Wolf if the Pats wanted to jump to No. 1. The early second-rounder at No. 34 could be a path to a top wide receiver -- maybe FSU's Keon Coleman -- but the Bears could also land Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3 if they opted to bypass the QB group.

As was the case with Washington's offer, the pot would need to be sweetened by New England with an additional draft pick. The Patriots probably won't want to give up their first three, so I'm thinking at least a 2025 second-rounder has to be added to this offer, if not an NFL player. New England's most intriguing players -- such as tight end Hunter Henry and offensive tackle Trent Brown -- are pending free agents, though.

Atlanta Falcons

Yates' trade package: No. 8 pick, 2025 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick, 2026 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick

This deal is similar to the one Chicago received last year from Carolina, which makes sense because the Bears would be moving back to No. 8 here and moved back to No. 9 in that 2023 trade. Atlanta would be motivated by the idea that the team is a quarterback away from making a leap in the winnable NFC South. It was the NFL's weakest division last season, with its four teams combining for 27 wins, five fewer than any other division.

If new coach Raheem Morris is lukewarm on the free agent or trade options, the Falcons could make a big plunge. Surrounding Williams with receiver Drake London, running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts could form a really exciting offense.

Cronin's Bears spin: The Bears would have back-to-back first-rounders at Nos. 8 and 9, and they could use one of those picks on the top edge rusher available (because Atlanta won't be there to take one at No. 8 when a run could start at the position). I could see Chicago then trading back from No. 9 and adding an interior offensive lineman or receiver later in Round 1.

This trade offer also presents Chicago with an opportunity to stick with Fields in 2024 (and pick up his fifth-year option in May) and draft a QB somewhere in the first round who can sit for a year and develop. The additional first- and second-round picks in both 2025 and 2026 make this trade an intriguing option if Chicago is confident in Fields this season.

Potential offers for Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers

Yates' trade package: 2024 second-round pick (No. 51), 2024 fourth-round pick

While coach Mike Tomlin recently pledged support for quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was a 2022 first-round pick, I would not be going out on a limb by proclaiming the Steelers need to consider other options. Fields would provide a dynamic dimension to the Steelers' offense, and I'd be pursuing this aggressively if I were Pittsburgh. The Steelers ranked outside the top 20 in completion percentage (63.8%), touchdown passes (13), yards per attempt (6.8) and QBR (41.6) last season.

Cronin's Bears spin: When gathering reporting on potential trade offers for Fields two months ago, several sources around the NFL suggested something similar to this Pittsburgh package. The Bears could fill their pick void in the second round and add a third fourth-rounder.

Last year, we saw Poles trade up early in the fourth round (using 2023 fourth- and fifth-round picks) to land Roschon Johnson, who projects to eventually start at running back. Having an additional fourth-rounder would allow Poles the flexibility to package picks and move around the draft board like he did three times in 2023 and four times on Day 3 alone in 2022.

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Atlanta Falcons

Yates' trade package: 2024 second-round pick (No. 43)

Atlanta is the only team we're mentioning as a contender for both options. That speaks to the desperate need of a quarterback upgrade, but considering a move from No. 8 to No. 1 in the draft would come at a massive cost, dealing for Fields might be the more attractive path. Fields played his high school football at nearby Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, and began his college career at the University of Georgia.

The Falcons would have contract control through at least 2025 -- Fields has a fifth-year option that can be picked up for 2025 -- and their exciting offensive playmakers would make this move a little more compelling.

Cronin's Bears spin: Like the Pittsburgh deal, Chicago would fill its void in the second round, picking just three spots behind where it was initially slated (the No. 40 pick went to Washington for Sweat). But unlike the Pittsburgh deal, Atlanta isn't offering a fourth-rounder, and drafting eight spots higher in Round 2 might not be worth losing an additional Day 3 pick.

Fields is an upgrade from Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder for the Falcons, and the offer for him should reflect that. But if there aren't many suitors in the Fields trade market, Atlanta might be able to get away with proposing only its second-rounder.

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Las Vegas Raiders

Yates' trade package: 2024 third-round pick, WR Hunter Renfrow

A more straightforward offer of the Raiders' second-rounder (No. 44) was there for the taking, but let's have a little more fun. The Raiders are in clear need of a quarterback -- Jimmy Garoppolo was benched during the season, and Aidan O'Connell hasn't shown enough to be the only option under center for coach Antonio Pierce -- but their QB choices in the first round at No. 13 might be limited. Fields would give Las Vegas some stability.

And while Renfrow is likely otherwise a cap casualty for Las Vegas, he posted 103 catches and 1,038 yards in 2021, and could help Chicago on offense. The Bears' leader in slot receiver snaps last season was Darnell Mooney, a soon-to-be free agent. As part of the deal, I'd suggest a renegotiated contract for Renfrow. Let's say one year and up to $7 million with incentives (including $3 million guaranteed).

After the Raiders hired Luke Getsy (formerly the Bears' offensive coordinator) as their offensive coordinator, no other team has a better snapshot of what Fields brings than the Raiders. Getsy's opinion surely would influence the viability of a deal like this getting done.

Cronin's Bears spin: I'm not convinced a reunion of Fields and Getsy is realistic, and the fact that many of Fields' shortcomings ultimately fall on the OC who was tasked with developing him might make this a nonstarter. Heck, the Raiders hiring Getsy after he was fired by Chicago would lead you to believe that the organization sees Fields as the issue, rather than their new offensive coordinator. But even aside from that, the Bears still don't come away with a second-round pick in this scenario, unlike the offers from Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

Additionally, Renfrow's past two seasons have been similar in production to what Chicago has gotten from Mooney. The additional $21.5 million that the Bears just earned in cap savings by releasing Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair gives Chicago an estimated $55 million in effective cap space to upgrade at wide receiver in free agency, which includes the likes of Tee Higgins, Mike Evans and Michael Pittman Jr.

The Bears' most likely decision

Cronin: The Bears have built great teams in the past that have lacked the quarterback play needed to get far in the postseason. Poles knows from his experience in Kansas City that drafting the right quarterback can be all the difference for the trajectory of a franchise. The opportunity to alter the Bears' trajectory begins with his decision here, and while Fields has shown improvement in 38 starts, he still finished the 2023 season ranked in the bottom-third in nearly every passing category.

The Bears might love Fields' leadership and the flashes he has shown since this regime took over two years ago, but as one NFL general manager made clear to me, the lack of clarity around whether Fields is the long-term option in Chicago is all the clarity the Bears need to make their decision. They have to use the No. 1 overall pick on a quarterback and draft Williams this April.

As intriguing as the Falcons' offer for the No. 1 overall pick is, I wonder if Atlanta would be ready to mortgage its future to move up the draft board in such a deal. So based on the opportunity Chicago has to build a team around the top rookie QB in the draft, the Bears should take the most draft capital they can get in an offer for Fields. Looking at the offers here, that means accepting the Steelers' offer of second- and fourth-round picks in exchange for the 24-year-old quarterback.