Justin Fields to the Falcons has become a popular talking point among fans. It’s unknown if Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith (if he remains the coach after this season) would be interested. They did have a chance to draft him back in 2021 but passed in favor of Kyle Pitts. It’s also no guarantee that Fields is made available by the Bears. Although, most expect Chicago to take a quarterback with the first overall pick and trade Fields.
What’s certain is that the Falcons will be in the market for a quarterback, and there are plenty of options to choose from. The upcoming draft class is loaded, featuring Caleb Williams, Drake, Maye, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix, to name a few. But do Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot want to put their faith in a rookie when their jobs could be hanging in the balance?
That’s something that will most definitely be considered this offseason, even if it isn’t in the best interest of the organization, which could cause them to favor a veteran, like Fields.
Recently, NFL insider Albert Breer went on the Rich Eisen Show, where he talked about the potential marriage. Like many, he sees why some believe it to be a fit, but he also sees it as another risky option for the Falcons brass, much like rolling with a rookie.
“I think it makes some sense, and I think he would be a good schematic fit for Arthur Smith,” Breer said. “I would just say based on how Justin has played do you go all in on him? I could see the trade, and that makes some sense. Are you willing to tie your job security to Justin Fields? Or, and I think this would be a good idea, do you say okay, we’re going to trade for Justin Fields and we’re going to draft one in the first round.”
Breer brings up what I think will be the biggest deterrent in the Falcons trading for Justin Fields. The upside is undeniable, but he’s been far too inconsistent over the first three years of his career in Chicago, which is why they are considering moving on from him in the first place. If Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot are still around past this season, it would be a massive risk relying solely on him in 2024 with their jobs on the line.
However, if Smith is let go after this season, Fields becomes a much more plausible option. The new coach could be higher on him than Smith was coming out of the draft, and he has a little wiggle room if it doesn’t work out, allowing him to take a gamble on Fields’ upside.
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Photographer: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
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