“Chicago [Bears] Botched This”: Shannon Sharpe Condemns Justin Fields ‘Conditional’ Trade to Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the way to earning some popular quarterbacks of the season. Just a couple of days ago, they signed Russell Wilson for a year amidst Kenny Pickett’s concerned comeback status due to injury. Now, the Steelers got Justin Fields on a “conditional” trade from the Chicago Bears.

This trade brought mixed reactions from the fans and NFL experts, with a majority of the analysts condemning the Bears’ decision. Among them, one is Shannon Sharpe, who expressed his discontentment on the latest episode of the Nightcap podcast on Sunday.

Shannon Sharpe isn’t happy with the Bears leaving Justin Fields?

Former NFL player Shannon Sharpe mentioned how the Bears missed out on opportunities to secure a quarterback like Justin Fields and how their actions have left them in a difficult position. He expressed, “You look foolish. Just releasing him but you’re basically what you did you getting for six, right? You know, you got a six-round draft pick, if he plays it, can go to a fourth but considering that he’s not gonna play. So guess what? It’s gonna be a sixth-round draft pick, they Chicago botched this from the beginning because I would have trained him last year. I would have traded him at the trading deadline knowing that I’m not passing up this quarterback.”

Sharpe concluded his statements by saying, “I know you can’t have him…..Y’all lost out on this,” indicating a poor decision from the Bears and their conditional trade to likely get Caleb Williams. Co-host Chad Johnson also showed his disappointment about the decision calling it “somewhat disrespectful.”

The Bears are trading Fields to Pittsburgh in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. The decision from the Bears’ side has indicated a potential aim at selecting quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. This trade allows them to clear the way to choose Williams without having Fields as part of their roster. So, now what’s next for the Bears and Fields?

Is Caleb Williams likely to join the Bears?

The Bears made a big move during the 2024 NFL free agency by trading their QB, Justin Fields, to the Steelers. In return, they got a draft pick for 2025, which could become a better pick if Fields plays a certain percentage (51%) of snaps for the Steelers in 2024. The trade signals that the Bears are likely to pick Caleb Williams, as their top draft choice on April 25. They’re still evaluating other quarterbacks and will make a decision soon.

Chicago is heavily favoring Williams to be their top pick. They are also considering trading back a few spots if they prefer another prospect. On the other hand, if Fields won’t start immediately for the Steelers, he’ll learn from a seasoned quarterback like Russell Wilson, who has a lot of experience. However, there’s still a chance Fields could see some action on the field if the Steelers want to.

Nevertheless, for the time being, the Steelers are addressing both short-term and long-term quarterback needs without spending much money or giving out draft picks. According to Tom Pelissero, “Fields is due $3,233,448 and the #Steelers will now have the rights to his fifth-year option. Pittsburgh’s QB depth chart is under contract for under $4.5M total.”

Read more: Bears Fans Compare Justin Fields Exit & Caleb Williams Rumors as Former NFL Star Ryan Leaf Hogs Limelight