Was former Bears quarterback Justin Fields almost the Vikings’ solution after Kirk Cousins’ left for Atlanta in March? We might never know for sure, but the word on the street is that Fields wouldn’t have minded wearing purple and gold.
In a report on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason change at the QB position, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor dropped a nugget that Minnesota was one of Fields’ preferred destinations.
With Chicago allegedly planning to draft USC phenom Caleb Williams, the Bears reportedly wanted to do right by Fields and give him a say in his future destination. He wound up with Pittsburgh, but Minnesota was apparently one of the teams he would’ve been happy to be play for.
“The Steelers were one of four teams on Fields’ radar prior to the start of free agency, along with the Vikings, Raiders and Falcons, a source familiar with Fields’ thinking said,” Pryor wrote.
Minnesota was previously linked to Fields, with reported interested in selecting him had he fallen to them in the 2021 draft. That, however, was under the former regime led by head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman.
With a desirable supporting cast in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, plus a solid offensive line, Fields’ interest in Minnesota makes complete sense. Being a division foe though made the prospect of that particular trade a long shot.
The Steelers eventually acquired Fields to cap off a whirlwind 24 hours in which they traded former first-round pick quarterback Kenny Pickett to Philadelphia and signed Russell Wilson.
Minnesota remains on the hunt for a franchise QB, having held private workouts with J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. in recent days as well as attending numerous pro days featuring the top quarterback prospects.
