In a surprising move, the Chicago Bears have announced that they have traded their quarterback, Justin Fields, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The deal sees Fields being sent off in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick, which may potentially turn into a fourth rounder based on his playing time.

While there were hopes that Fields' trade market would attract more attention and yield a higher return, it appears that the interest from potential suitors was not as strong as expected. Reports suggest that the Bears did receive inquiries from five other teams regarding a potential trade for Fields, but most of those teams envisioned him as a backup rather than a starter.

According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, the Steelers were among the six teams that reached out to the Bears about Fields. However, it seems that Pittsburgh viewed him as a backup option rather than as a potential replacement for their current starting quarterback, Russell Wilson.

Initially, Chicago had hoped to secure compensation for Fields similar to the parameters of the Sam Darnold trade, which included a 2021 sixth-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. However, as no deal materialized based on those terms, the Bears had to adjust their expectations and settle for a conditional sixth-round pick instead.

Critics may argue that the Bears could have held out until the NFL draft, potentially taking advantage of a desperate team in need of a rookie quarterback. However, general manager Ryan Poles made it a priority to find a new home for Fields as quickly as possible and follow through on his promise to do right by the young quarterback.

Fields now finds himself in Pittsburgh, where he will likely serve as Wilson's backup. However, there may be opportunities for Fields to step in if Wilson struggles or faces any setbacks.

As this trade unfolds, many will be watching closely to see how Fields develops in his new surroundings. Only time will tell if the Bears made the right decision in trading away their promising young quarterback for a conditional sixth-round pick.