The Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Justin Fields on Saturday for a conditional draft pick. It’s a sixth-rounder that may bump to a fourth, dependent on playing time.

The Bears own the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, so they’re the presumptive favorites to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who is probably the highest-regarded talent at the position since Trevor Lawrence.

While there clearly could be positives to keeping Fields on the roster, the Bears recognized two critical issues. First, Fields has been a popular character in the locker room, and no team would want to allow any potential for splintering if the rookie quarterback got out to a terrible start. Second, Fields did all the right things for the Bears over the last three years, therefore the club did right by the player to relocate him to a more advantageous place.

The Steelers signed quarterback Russell Wilson this week and then traded two-year starter Kenny Pickett, who has fallen out of favor lately. So the Steelers needed a second quarterback and a younger guy to compliment the 35-year-old Wilson.

Well-run organizations know how to take advantage of chances, and that’s what the Steelers accomplished here. Fields’ trade market had shrunk due to other quarterback transactions earlier in the week, but the Steelers pounced.

They’ve set up the most interesting quarterback contest in the league between an aging Super Bowl champion and a former first-round selection with electric potential and room to develop. Wilson didn’t get enough credit last season for his performance (26 touchdowns, eight interceptions), as the aftermath from the 2021 and 2022 seasons still loomed overhead. But he might still find success within the Pittsburgh offense.

Fields provides a distinct dimension as a strong runner who is still learning as a passer. But that style could fit the Steelers’ personnel. The concern is how they’ll divide the offensive systems among different sorts of quarterbacks.

Also notable is that Wilson and Fields (pending his fifth-year option) have one year remaining on their contracts. Both are approaching important career seasons, albeit on different sides of the spectrum, so each QB needs to play well. This is going to be a fun setup.

I can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for affording me the opportunity to be part of such a storied team. But most of all, thank you to all my brothers who I played with. It seems like a high grade, right? Well, let’s run through it.

Last month, a group of coaches and executives largely concluded Fields was worth a second-round pick—or maybe a third-rounder. So by that logic, the Bears didn’t get nearly enough.

The Bears deserve plenty of criticism for one crucial element. They didn’t predict the market as effectively as they should have to maximize Fields’ return value. When Kirk Cousins joined the Falcons and higher-end backups started pouring off the board in free agency, Fields’ suitors were shrinking swiftly.

If Fields wins and holds the starting job, the Bears will earn a fourth-round pick, so they’ll have lost a round or two of worth. If he doesn’t, maybe the perceived worth wasn’t as high as first anticipated, which would have been shown by his success in the battle with Wilson.

The Bears’ rating gets a lift in emotion. No, general manager Ryan Poles can’t feed his family on sentimentality, but that does go a long way with players.

Fields’ tenure with the Bears has come to an end. They’re going to pick his replacement, and it would have been unpleasant for everyone in the room if they retained him just because the trade value wasn’t there.

They did right by Fields, and players will take notice and respect that. It may not pay immediate benefits in the win-loss column, but players notice when they’re treated like persons and not assets. If the Bears’ upward trajectory continues and becomes sustainable, that’ll be something to be referenced as they seek to develop a new culture. The Bears deserve some credit for that.