Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ future may be unsettled. But he has fans around the NFL.
That is notable as we see a shift at the top of the betting market around potential trade destinations for the fourth-year quarterback, whom the Bears have not said they are moving on from yet. Still, they are not the betting favorite to be his team in 2024.
That distinction belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers and it may be thanks to a rumor about Head Coach Mike Tomlin that has made the rounds in the wake of the Super Bowl.
Steelers Favored to Trade for Bears QB Justin Fields After Mike Tomlin Rumor
Mike Tomlin Rumor Appears to Tilt Market for Steelers
The Steelers find themselves with the shortest odds on DraftKings, per NOLA.com?s Spencer Urquhart on February 13:
Pittsburgh Steelers (+100)
Chicago Bears (+150)
Atlanta Falcons (+550)
New England Patriots (+650)
Las Vegas Raiders (+1200)
Washington Commanders (+1000)
Denver Broncos (+1200)
Seattle Seahawks (+2500)
Minnesota Vikings (+3500)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3500)
?We know that Pittsburgh is going to go out and get some type of quarterback. Whether that’s Ryan Tannehill, whether that’s Russell Wilson, whether that’s Justin Fields,? ESPN?s Adam Schefter said on ?The Pat McAfee Show? on February 12. ?Mike Tomlin’s a big fan of Justin Fields. We’ll keep that in mind during the offseason in the coming weeks.
?Now it’s which of these quarterbacks do they make a move for? Which one is somebody that they can go acquire, and who fits into what they’re willing to give up to either another team or to pay that player.?
Those comments appear to have had a direct impact on the betting leaderboard. The Steelers held the sixth-best odds at +1600 on DraftKings just one day prior, per Fox Sports on February 12:
Bears: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Falcons: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
Raiders: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Seahawks: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Broncos: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Steelers: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Patriots: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Vikings: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Commanders: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Betting Market vs. Reality Bears Trade Justin Fields
These are fickle and ever-changing, making them far from ideal to go by.
The Falcons were at one point also thought to be the potential favorite for the Georgia native, Fields. The Washington Commanders could also target him as a consolation for missing out on Caleb Williams, his presumed replacement in this scenario.
He is still a member of the Bears until further notice. That notice could come soon after the NFL Scouting Combine in March. That is when the Bears traded the No. 1 pick last season and could give a clue to a timeline.
Steelers Cut Former Bears QB
Fields would be following another former Bears quarterback if he went to the Steelers, Mitchell Trubisky, whom he replaced as the quarterback of the future in Chicago. Pittsburgh announced Trubisky?s release as it prepares to revamp its quarterback room.
The Bears traded up to select Trubisky No. 2 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
He spent four seasons with the Bears, signing with the Buffalo Bills in free agency. After one season there, it was on to Pittsburgh where he has logged seven starts in 12 appearances over the last two seasons.