Latest NFL rumors reveal that the Chargers pursued the most unconventional trade

The LA Chargers were very active in general manager Joe Hortiz's first offseason with the team. Whether it was restructuring deals for Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, parting ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, or signing a slew of high-upside players, the Bolts were busy.

All in all, Chargers fans were happy with the offseason that the team put together. The work the team put in during the offseason has already paid off as the Chargers were rolling early in 2024 before the injury bug started to catch up.

While there were some surprises from the Chargers offseason, they all pail in comparison to another surprising move that the team was reportedly considering. In a recent appearance on "Just Football with Cam Heyward", Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields told his teammate that the Chargers were one of the early teams interested in trading for him this offseason.

"There were a lot of teams that already had solidified quarterbacks, and I didn't want to do that," Fields said. "Chargers were one, Ravens were another. Raiders, they talked a little bit. I don't know too much. Who else was in there, I don't know, but a lot of teams had solidified quarterbacks who just got new contracts, so I didn't want to [go] there."

Justin Fields reveals Chargers tried trading for him

This is an interesting wrinkle as the Chargers have a franchise quarterback and did not need to bring in Fields. The team ended up trading for a backup quarterback in Taylor Heinicke, but this interest would have been far before the team saw Easton Stick stink up the joint in the preseason.

This shows that there was at least some level of concern around Stick being the team's backup even before he struggled in the preseason. With how well Fields has played for Pittsburgh this season, it is safe to say he would have been a massive upgrade over Stick, and even Heinicke (especially in Greg Roman's offense).

Were the Chargers outright calling Chicago for Fields to try and get a deal done? Maybe not. If the team really wanted Fields that badly, they definitely could have beaten out the offer the Steelers sent.

Granted, part of the reason why Fields went to the Steelers is because the Bears were doing him a favor, but it is unlikely that the Chargers lost out on some kind of bidding war. Instead, this gives fans a peek into the discussions around the Allen trade.

It is much more likely the Chargers inquired about Fields' availability and price when the two teams were negotiating the Allen trade. Perhaps there were talks of the Bears sending Fields and lesser draft capital for Allen instead of a fourth-round pick.

Regardless of what happened, the Chargers would be in a better spot right now with Herbert's injury if Fields was the backup instead of Heinicke. But then again, Fields would not have had the chance to start, so who knows where his headspace would have actually been as a Chargers backup.

It is a fun what if, though.