When people list the teams who may trade for Justin Fields this offseason, the same names come up repeatedly. We often hear about all of the quarterback-needy teams, but there is always a surprise team that joins in late. What is that squad, the Miami Dolphins? Could they make a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire Justin Fields?
Could the Miami Dolphins trade the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields?
The first thought is no, they already have Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa is coming off a fantastic year, but many fans and media members wonder how much he contributes and how much he gets away with having Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike McDaniel. The playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs must have shown the squad that Tagovailoa may struggle to overcome adversity.
Tagovailoa is signed this year with a $23 million cap hit for his fifth-year option, but he will be a free agency following this year. If the Chicago Bears traded Fields to the Miami Dolphins, they would only pay around $6 million. The Dolphins’ quarterback room would still cost less than $30 million, which is reasonable when compared to other clubs in the NFL.
This gives them security. If Fields defeats Tagovailoa in camp or during the season, if Tagovailoa is injured, or if Tagovailoa fails in the playoffs and the Dolphins want to test free agency, they may have the rights to Fields. They could activate his fifth-year option, which would begin in 2025, with the possibility of winning a starting spot in the future.
We know McDaniel appreciates what Fields does, and we know he can be innovative with a player’s skill set. There might not be a play-caller more interested in Fields. With Tagovailoa having an easy out after this year, the chances of adding Fields for a bargain have to increase this offseason.
