The debate started when the Bears limped to a 0-4 start this season. The longest losing streak in the franchise’s history ballooned to 14 straight games. Fans and writers immediately started pointing fingers. Angst was directed at Matt Eberflus, Luke Getsy, and Justin Fields.
Despite the loss to Denver in week four, Justin Fields had his best game of his career. He exhibited total control of the offense, throwing for 335 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, the defense collapsed, and a costly interception on their final drive resulted in a devastating loss, dropping the Bears to a 0-4 start to the season.
Fields’ play has been criticized relentlessly despite improving every season.
Fields started for the first time against Cleveland in 2021, and he couldn’t have had a worse debut. Cleveland’s pass rush was relentless, and Chicago’s offense had no answers.
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The Bears offense on the day: 46 yards rushing, 68 yards passing. Fields was sacked NINE times for 67 yards. Chicago’s total net yards was only 47 yards. The offense converted just one third down and was 0-1 on 4th down.
Justin Fields has come a long way since then. He has improved but definitely needs to keep moving the needle. With promising Quarterbacks available in this year’s draft, speculation is heavy. Fans and media alike are torn on what Ryan Poles should do, and unconfirmed rumors have filled Bears media almost every day.
Does Poles Keep or Trade Justin Fields
The are two scenarios. Poles can trade Fields and draft a QB with one of their two available first round picks. There have been plenty of stories alluding to this. One cause for concern is what the Bears get in trade value for the third year QB. It doesn’t appear Poles would be able to acquire a first round pick and would have to settle for two or three draft picks but none higher than perhaps a 2nd round pick.
The second option is to stick with Fields, exercise his fifth year option, and continue to build around him. Trading the pick acquired from Carolina, currenly the number overall selectioin in 2024, would reap at least two first round picks plus additional capital in either draft choices or a player that would fill some of the holes still left on the roster.
The concern is if Fields is progressing to the point where he can lead the Bears to success in the post season.
Bears Impressive Upswing Complicates
After the brutal 0-4 start, the Bears have now won three of their last four, and sit just one game out of a playoff spot in the NFC. So let’s take a hard look at Fields to see if there is the measureable improvement needed to have faith in what Fields can do.
Justin Fields has now started 34 games, the equivalent of two full seasons. Here is a look at his first 17 games, the second season’s worth of starts, and finally what he has done in his last six starts. All games are included, including thJuste Atlanta game last year, when he suffered a separated shoulder, and this year’s game against Minnesota, when he dislocated his right thumb. This eliminates any concern for sugar coating the numbers.
Felds’ first 17 games: 224 completions, 391 attempts, 2,846 yards, 12 TDs, 15 INTs, 74.4 passer rating.
Fields’ next 17 games: 278 completions, 437 attempts, 3,004 yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs, 91.8 passer rating.
Last six games: 115 completions, 171 attempts, 1,309 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTS, 104.6 passer rating.
Caleb Williams had an unremarkable year. His talent is obvious, but he was plagued with inconsistnecies, especially when USC played top-ranked teams. Still, many think he is the best QB available. It isn’t hard to go back to 2017, when many analysts thought Mitch Trubisky had the highest ceiling.
Choose your poison and comment below. This will surely be a lively debate.
Y’all might think I’m crazy, but I think we will be better with Fields and more draft picks than we would be with any qb in the draft. Especially Williams, he has all the flaws Fields had plus he has zero NFL experience, that means another year or two for him to learn the new system and unlearn what they ran in college. I say keep Fields, trade down in the draft and go from there. As far as Trubisky, his team wasn’t torn down as he started. He regressed as the others around him aged and couldn’t keep up.… Read more »
Trubisky and Fields didn’t meet Parcell’s criteria for being a 3 year starter, 30 starts, 23 wins. They shouldn’t have been drafted in the 1st round at all. We don’t do that anymore.
Fields has physical traits for a higher ceiling than Mitch for sure. Michael you mentioned games played, Im talking the first 3 yrs in both of their careers. If Mitch played that many more games in 3 years than Fields that presents another HUGE flaw with Fields…availability. How many games has he missed with injuries already? As of this second Mitch has had statistically a better Bears career than Fields including 4th quarter comebacks and settin his team up to win a playoff game against a very good Eagles defense. Fields NEVER beat a top 15 defense. The other side… Read more »
I don’t think that many thought Trubisky had the highest ceiling. Most teams thought that honor went to Mahomes or Watson. What they thought Trubisky had was the highest floor and being the most “pro ready”. Bears and many other teams thought that Trubisky’s style translated the best to the NFL level.
Keep me honest here fellas, but regarding the Trubisky comparison, I would also add that he continued to regress year by year. At least it felt that way to me. Fields on the other hand keeps getting better. I also think, and his tenure with Pitt proves this point, Trubisky’s ceiling is much lower than Fields. I don’t see him getting any better than where he is now. Fields isn’t even gotten close to how high he can go. It was Ditka who said famously, (I believe after the Bears lost Wilbur Marshall to free agency) you don’t get better… Read more »