How good is saving money?
I needed fuel the other day, and I chose to drive past two gas stations only to come across a third that was selling diesel for 30 cents less than the first two. What a win.
I just moved, and I was in the market for a new fridge, too. I found a second-hand one on Facebook Marketplace listed for $450 that looked great, only to discover that I could buy that exact same fridge brand new from an electronics retailer for $50 less. I saved money and got an upgrade. How good is that?
Well, that’s exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs did when they traded for quarterback Justin Fields earlier this month. The Chiefs are not only saving money, but they are getting an upgrade in the process too.
Like me with a fridge, the Chiefs found themselves in the market for a backup quarterback after deciding their old one wasn’t worth keeping. And like me, looking for gas, they passed up multiple more expensive options to find a better deal down the road.
Gardner Minshew was Kansas City’s backup QB last year—the old fridge. He appeared in two meaningful games and made just one start as Patrick Mahomes’ injury replacement before getting injured himself. He threw the ball 13 times, completed just six passes, had one interception, and zero touchdowns.
That’s not a stat line or a storyline that screams “keep me.” So, when the Arizona Cardinals offered Minshew a one-year, $8.25 million deal—seven times more than what Kansas City paid him in 2025—and K.C., wisely, decided not to match it. Smart move.
Chiefs passed on pricey backups to find better value
That meant the next stop for a replacement was the free agent market—Facebook Marketplace. There, the Chiefs saw exactly what you’d expect to find on Marketplace: stuff that’s either old, too expensive, not very good, or all three things at once.
There was Marcus Mariota, who re-signed with the Washington Commanders for one year and $7 million, and Carson Wentz, who re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings for one year and $3 million.
There was Mitch Trubisky, whom the Tennessee Titans decided to give a $10.5 million, two-year contract to, and Kenny Pickett, who will earn $4 million with the Carolina Panthers this year.
And there was a banged-up 37-year-old Kirk Cousins, a washed-up 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers, and two “how are they not retired yet” guys in Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson who were all available too.
Like I said—too old, too expensive, not very good, or all three at once.
Instead of signing any of those names, the Chiefs traded a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets for Fields, who they are paying $3 million to this year. Based on the list above, I think Kansas City is clearly paying the best price for the best product available.
The Justin Fields trade looks even better by comparison
But wait, the value gets even better.
The Miami Dolphins just paid $67.5 million over three years to sign Malik Willis, a player who has only made six career starts, has thrown just six career touchdowns, and has fewer than 1,500 passing yards. That’s $61 million more than the Chiefs are paying Fields for a player who I’m genuinely not convinced is any better than Fields is. Jeepers.
There’s one part of Fields’ acquisition that might seem to make the deal a little less appealing—the inclusion of a draft pick, a 2027 sixth-rounder. But exactly one day after the Chiefs pulled the trigger on the trade with the Jets, another similar deal landed.
Just 24 hours later, the Philadelphia Eagles traded for backup QB Andy Dalton. The price tag? A 2027 seventh-round pick sent to the Panthers and $4 million paid to Dalton. If I had to choose between Philly’s trade and Dalton or Kansas City’s deal and Fields, I’d take the latter ten times out of ten.
The more I think about the Fields trade, the more I like it. I like Fields as a backup, and I think he has more potential, more upside, and more to offer than any other backup option that was on the market. Then, when you factor in the price Kansas City paid for Fields compared to what other teams paid for similar, subjectively worse players, it gets even better.
I love a bargain and a great deal, and the Kansas City Chiefs absolutely just found both in Justin Fields.