NFL Trade Rumors: Falcons Price for Fields Revealed?

Even after Raheem Morris replaced Arthur Smith as head coach and hired former Los Angeles Rams assistant Zac Robinson to replace Smith as offensive coordinator, the Atlanta Falcons are still associated with Justin Fields, the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Thanks to last offseason’s blockbuster deal with the Carolina Panthers, there is growing conjecture regarding Fields’ future while the Bears consider what to do with the first overall pick in the 2018

NFL Draft. Fields is probably going to be dealt this summer if Chicago determines

it’s time to let go of the former first-round choice. If so, it might provide a

chance for a team in need of a quarterback, such as the Falcons to sign a

new franchise player. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently floated that notion,

estimating the cost to Atlanta of a possible deal for Fields.

“The Falcons have their own second (40) and third-round picks (74),” says

Barnwell. As part of the Calvin Ridley trade, they also received a pick from the

Jaguars. If Ridley signs a contract extension with the team, the pick will be

48th overall; otherwise, it will be 79th overall. If Atlanta were to get the 48th

pick from the Jaguars, do you think it would be more likely to send it? If not,

the two third-round picks would be a reasonable compromise.”

The Falcons have not been able to acquire a long-term quarterback to

replace Matt Ryan since their unsuccessful attempt to sign former

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Marcus Mariota, who they

signed two offseasons ago, was only a 13-game rental before being cut last

offseason because Desmond Ridder was benched in his place. Then, after being

given the go-ahead as the starter for 15 games, the former Cincinnati third-

round pick was benched twice in favor of his seasoned backup, Taylor Heinicke, for

subpar play. Ridder and Heinicke are not anticipated to start for the Falcons next

season after a season in which they failed to live up to preseason

expectations and concluded with a losing record (7-10) for the sixth consecutive year.

The former Ohio State Buckeye completed 61.4 percent of his throws en route to a career-high 2,562 yards of passing with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In addition, Fields used his legs to carry for 657 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games during the previous season. While Fields might not be as certain as, say, a Kirk Cousins selection for the Falcons, it might be worth taking the chance at the expense of perhaps just two Day-2 NFL Draft selections.