When the Kansas City Chiefs signed Justin Fields in free agency (via trade), the move was interesting.
Mainly because Fields was coming to a team that had Patrick Mahomes rehabbing an ACL injury. That gives Fields a decent part of the offseason program to get starting reps in an Andy Reid offense.
And what that could do for Fields' development is a tantalizing thought.
No, he won't be the long-term starter because duh, but there is a world where Fields is asked to chip in with a game or two early in the season as Mahomes builds up to 100 percent.
For Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Chiefs' plan for Fields is a great one.
“I view the Chiefs/Justin Fields marriage as a great business arrangement,” Breer wrote. “He gives Kansas City depth and an experienced stand-in with real upside for Andy Reid to mine. The Chiefs give him a year of development and the shot to take starter reps in a championship program through the spring and summer, while Patrick Mahomes rehabs his knee injury.
“I’d bet on Mahomes getting back for Week 1, so that’d make the likelihood that Fields is spending the 2026 season entirely as a backup, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
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Fields in perfect spot
To be able to learn from Reid, Mahomes, Eric Bieniemy, and others, Fields, you could argue, is in the best place imaginable to develop his skills.
Of course, Chiefs Kingdom hopes he doesn't see the field at all, as that would mean bad things for Mahomes, but Fields, as a backup, allowed to work on his game in the shadows with the chance at starter reps in the offseason, is a great thing.
We have seen other high draft picks in Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold go through something similar and come out the other side as far better players.
Is Fields the next one to add to the list? He's in the ideal spot to begin that journey.
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