The role of backup quarterback was always going to be one of the offseason's most interesting positions to watch for the Kansas City Chiefs. The start of the second week of free agency has provided the answer to a more-pressing-than-normal question with a surprising trade for Justin Fields.
NFL reporter Adam Schefter broke the news that the Chiefs had worked out a deal to trade for Fields, who had multiple other suitors. Schefter reports that Fields wanted to go to Kansas City, so they worked to fulfill his wish.
To facilitate the deal, the Jets are reportedly eating (most of) Fields' salary in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round draft choice. Fields was scheduled to carry a cap hit of $23 million this year with void years attached after that.
Fields now occupies a role typically held by cheaper one-year veteran signings behind Patrick Mahomes. It's a fairly big shift in organizational philosophy for the Chiefs, who have trotted out the likes of Gardner Minshew, Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne, and Carson Wentz over the last half-decade. Instead of chasing someone like Jimmy Garoppolo for a similar rol
The Chiefs now have a much younger player with potential upside, given that Fields was a first-round choice for the Chicago Bears at No. 11 overall as recently as 2021. Fields famously flamed out in the Windy City, which eventually led them to try again with Caleb Williams, but even subsequent attempts to revive his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jets haven't gone as hoped.
What makes this a more important acquisition for the Chiefs is that Patrick Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL and LCL, which means there's no guarantee that he will be starting under center when Week 1 arrives. Fields might have to carry the offensive torch for at least the Chiefs' preseason slate and be ready to go far beyond that.
In his career, Fields has made 53 starts with a passer rating of 84.7 in his career. He's thrown 52 touchdowns and 32 interceptions, and his teams have an all-time record of 16-37 in games he's started.