(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Justin Fields may not have gotten a trade to his preferred destination, according to a recent report.

The quarterback is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, having gotten dealt ahead of an NFL Draft in which the Chicago Bears are expected to select Caleb Williams.

ESPN’s Brook Pryor has suggested that the rivalry between the Bears and the Minnesota Vikings could have gone up a level as the latter was one of the teams on a list of four Fields gave to general manager Ryan Poles when it became clear that he would be traded.

Poles was keen on sending Fields to one of his desired landing spots and ultimately ended up doing so as the Steelers were also on his list. However, it would be fair to assume that the QB would have probably picked Minnesota over Pittsburgh given the fact that they have one of the top wide receivers in the NFL in Justin Jefferson.

The Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons were the other teams on said list.

“The Steelers were one of four teams on Fields’ radar prior to the start of free agency, along with the Vikings, Raiders and Falcons, a source familiar with Fields’ thinking said,” Pryor wrote.

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Justin Fields Would Have Obviously Cost A Lot Less Than The QB The Vikings Are Set To Draft

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 31: Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears attempts a pass during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field on December 31, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Pryor did not elaborate on whether there were ever any discussions between the Bears and the Vikings, but it would be hard to imagine the team not at least knowing of the player’s interest in joining them.

In any case, getting Fields would have complicated things for Minnesota, although it would have still been less than whatever they’re going to use to get a QB in the draft.

The Vikings traded two second-rounders, as well as a sixth, to the Houston Texans in exchange for the No. 23 overall pick earlier this offseason. They’re now expected to combine that with their No. 11 pick to try to move up in the draft and acquire one of the top QB prospects.

A conditional fifth-round pick would have probably been enough to get a deal over the line with the Bears as the Steelers ended up surrendering a sixth-rounder that could convert into a fourth.