Seahawks Trade Idea: Justin Fields of Bears In, Geno Smith Out?

Coming off a Pro Bowl season, the Seattle Seahawks intend to re-sign veteran signal caller Geno Smith. But … what about a trade idea for Bears QB Justin Fields?

With the Super Bowl and the 2022 season now in the rear-view mirror and a busy offseason set to kick into overdrive, it's officially smokescreen season in the NFL.

The notion of the Seattle Seahawks moving on from Geno Smith in favor of a blockbuster trade for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields may be just that - a “smokescreen” - or, in theory, something even less substantial than that. The franchise would know a thing or two about such scenarios considering their recent history.

As is the case every February, teams keep their true intentions for free agency and the draft close to the vest, with general managers and coaches rarely offering even bread crumbs as clues. Last March, for example, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters at the annual scouting combine that the team had "no intention" of trading star quarterback Russell Wilson, only to trade him to the Broncos six days later.

While Carroll and general manager John Schneider didn't explicitly say Seattle wouldn't deal Wilson and their verbiage kept the door open for a move to happen, the decision to send him to the Mile High City still stunned the masses given their recent comments.

Fast forwarding a year later, though progress appears to be trending in the right direction, the Seahawks once again are staying fairly tight-lipped when it comes to their quarterback situation. In the midst of contract discussions with Smith, who made his first Pro Bowl after throwing 30 touchdown passes succeeding Wilson under center in 2022, Schneider offered few specifics on where negotiations stand in his weekly radio show on Seattle Sports 710.

"Good talks so far," Schneider said when asked about negotiations with Smith. "We're in it. We're just trying to figure out what's best, and we'll do what's right."

Interestingly, as Seattle tries to sort out its own quarterback situation facing the prospects of Smith commanding more than $30 million per year following a breakout campaign, Chicago may unexpectedly find itself in a similar boat, albeit for vastly different reasons.

Winning only three games in coach Matt Eberflus' first season at the helm, the Bears leapfrogged Texans for the No. 1 overall pick in the final week of the regular season. Holding the golden ticket with more than $100 million in expected cap space at their disposal, they stand out as one of the most intriguing franchises to watch heading towards the new league year.

Looking towards the future in the Windy City, Chicago already has a dynamic young quarterback in Fields to build around. But with former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young headlining a talented crop of signal callers in the 2023 draft class, speculation has been rampant about the organization potentially turning down trade offers for the top selection and drafting the ex-Alabama star instead.

Earlier this month, in typical mid-February smoke screen fashion, CBS insider Jason LaCanfora tweeted that multiple NFL general managers left the Senior Bowl in Mobile "fairly convinced" Fields would be traded by the Bears this offseason.

While Justin Fields has yet to come into his own as a passer, the Bears haven't done him any favors by putting a poor supporting cast around him

Knowing how NFL teams operate shrouded in secrecy regarding their plans, Bears general manager Ryan Poles may not have any real interest in dealing away Fields. When not getting battered to a pulp behind a suspect offensive line, the former Ohio State standout has flashed superstar promise despite playing on a roster lacking talent at the skill positions for him to throw to.

After throwing more interceptions than touchdowns as a rookie, Fields made tangible improvements as a passer in 2022, improving his completion percentage by two points while tossing 17 touchdown passes. He also emerged as one of the league's most dangerous runners, rushing 160 times for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns while leading the NFL averaging 7.1 yards per carry.

At the same time, however, Poles wasn't in charge when the franchise traded up in the first round to select the dual-threat quarterback in 2021. If he and Eberflus believe Young gives Chicago a better chance to quickly become a contender in the NFC North, it would behoove the organization to explore the possibility of moving Fields for additional draft picks to help accelerate the roster building process around the incoming rookie.

Set to turn only 24-years-old next month, a rising talent of Fields caliber would surely draw significant interest from other teams if the Bears made him available for trade.

Of course, there's a catch. Poles won't want to tip his hand to other teams, so even if he does intend to pick Young first overall and change course under center, the Bears likely won't be making a deal jettisoning their current quarterback until draft weekend.

With the franchise tag window officially opening on February 21, the Seahawks have three weeks to hash out a long-term extension with Smith and based on comments from both sides, talks appear to be trending in the right direction. But if negotiations don't bear fruit and general manager John Schneider has to use the expensive $32.4 million tag to prevent the veteran from hitting the market, there may be some interesting discussions looming within the front office.

A fully-guaranteed franchise tag for Smith would significantly hamper Seattle's ability to further replenish the roster with talent in free agency. While Schneider would continue trying to work towards a long-term agreement, the possibility of pursuing Fields, who still has two years left on his rookie deal and a fifth-year option that can be exercised for 2025, would be an enticing one to consider.

Holding four picks in the top 52, including the No. 5 and No. 20 overall selection in the first round, the Seahawks have the necessary draft capital to make a viable offer for Fields. Compared to other teams that may be interested in his services, they would have more resources at their disposal to get a deal done if they decided to pursue the opportunity to land the dynamic playmaker and team him up with a loaded group of skill players anchored by receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

If such a move did happen, assuming Smith received the franchise tag and a long-term deal never materialized, Seattle would have to deal the veteran to another team seeking a quarterback upgrade. This list could include Tampa Bay, which recently hired former quarterbacks coach Dave Canales as its new offensive coordinator, among other suitors.

With so many moving parts, the chances of such a trade coming to fruition down the road seems improbable, in large part because re-signing Smith remains the top priority for all parties involved. The Pro Bowl signal caller has already made it known on record he wants to finish his career in Seattle and after setting several franchise records in 2022, the front office would love to reward him for his efforts with a multi-year contract to maintain continuity at quarterback.

Whether or not the Bears actually intend to shop Fields also remains unknown, as such rumors of his impending exit may be little more than offseason fodder.

But at this still early stage of the offseason, with the NFL combine coming up in Indianapolis next week and Smith's future uncertain in the present, all alternatives need to kept on the table with no stones left unturned. In regard to a potential deal for Fields, with smokescreen season fully engaged, it's fun food for thought and yet another option for the Seahawks to consider at the most important position in pro sports.

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