Robert Griffin III Thinks Steelers Robbed Bears for Justin Fields

Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III thinks Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan pulled off an absolute heist in the Justin Fields trade with Chicago.

The Steelers acquired quarterback Fields from Chicago for a sixth-round pick in 2025 that could potentially turn into a fourth if Fields plays 51% of the snaps in 2024. Many thought Fields would go for at least a second or a third-round pick.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers just robbed the Chicago Bears on the weekend in broad daylight. Getting Justin Fields in 2024, giving up ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in 2024 and only giving up a 2025 6th round pick that MIGHT turn into a 4th rounder. This is what we call BIG BANK take little bank,” Griffin wrote on X after the trade was announced.

The trade for Fields comes on the heels of Khan convincing Bears general manager Ryan Poles to give up a second-round pick for wide receiver Chase Claypool at the trade deadline in November of 2022. Claypool flamed out in Chicago and was traded to Miami in October.

The Steelers used the Claypool pick to select cornerback Joey Porter Jr, who had a great rookie year campaign. So basically, the Steelers traded Claypool and a sixth-round pick for Joey Porter Jr. and Justin Fields. Khan just knows how to manuever Poles.

It’s easy to criticize the return the Chicago Bears received in the long-expected deal Saturday evening that sent quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bears will get a sixth-round pick in 2025, and it can become a fourth-rounder if Fields is on the field for 51% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps. So the folks at Halas Hall will be rooting for Fields to unseat Russell Wilson before midseason.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune thinks it’s easy to criticize Poles for the meager return in the Fields trade. But his hands were tied.

“Could general manager Ryan Poles have done better? Perhaps. But as quarterback jobs were filled around the league, other teams told the Bears how they felt about Fields,” Briggs wrote. “The New York Giants signed Drew Lock, who reportedly is going to compete for the starting job. The Las Vegas Raiders scooped up Gardner Minshew. The Philadelphia Eagles, who have an athletic starter in Jalen Hurts in an offense that would seemingly fit Fields, traded with the Steelers for Kenny Pickett, opening a spot for Fields in Pittsburgh.

“The Washington Commanders signed Marcus Mariota. The Minnesota Vikings grabbed Sam Darnold. The Buffalo Bills brought back Mitch Trubisky. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Mac Jones. The Tennessee Titans signed Mason Rudolph. The Arizona Cardinals traded with the Atlanta Falcons for Desmond Ridder, and one source said there was more chatter in league circles about Ridder than Fields.

“While it’s easy to question why Poles didn’t get a better return — Darnold once brought the Jets three picks from the Carolina Panthers, including a second-rounder — Fields wasn’t nearly the commodity some had hoped, and that really speaks to what transpired over the last three seasons for two coaching staffs as the potential surrounding the former Ohio State star was never fully realized. Multiple sources with other teams said Poles worked the phones hard in recent days to make something happen.”

Fields wanted to play for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers, and that is why he is now with the team despite four or five other teams being interested in acquiring Fields, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

“At least four additional teams inquired about trading for Fields, but Fields’ representation asked for him not to be traded there. He wanted the Steelers, and the Bears did right by him,” Rapoport said.

Poles said his goal was to “do right” by Fields, and he stood by his word.