The Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Steelers this offseason, but before the deal was finalized at least three other teams were involved in trade talks, including the Los Angeles Chargers.
According to Fields via his teammate Cam Heyward’s podcast, Not Just Football, the Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders all made inquiries into trading for the 2021 11th overall pick.
Ultimately, Fields wanted to go to a team where he could compete for a starting role.
Fields Reveals Chargers Attempted To Trade For Him
“I’m not sure of all the teams, but there were a lot of teams that already had solidified quarterbacks and I didn’t want to do that. Chargers were one, Ravens were another,” Fields said. “Raiders, they talked a little bit. I don’t know too much. Who else was in there I don’t know, but a lot of teams had solidified quarterbacks who just got new contracts so I didn’t want to be there.”
Of course, with Justin Herbert having just signed a 5-year contract extension worth $262.5 million, the Chargers were not an ideal landing spot for the now-Pittsburgh starting quarterback.
The Chargers eventually did add another quarterback to their roster via trade after Easton Stick struggled in the preseason. The Atlanta Falcons traded Taylor Heinicke for a sixth-round pick. With Herbert’s injury status now in question, there is a very real possibility that Heinicke will start in Week 4.
Fields trade compensation wasn’t much more expensive. He was traded in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft and a potential fourth-round pick if he plays 51 percent of the team’s snaps. The Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Fields’ contract, making him a free agent after the 2024 season.
By the time the team did trade for a backup quarterback, (August 28th) they were far more motivated to make a move than they were likely in March when Field was traded.
The Chargers got a front-row seat to their missed opportunity in Week 3 when the Chargers took on the Steelers. Fields threw for 244 yards, completing 78 percent of his passes, one of the best performances of his NFL career.
