The 2022 season is over. Teams have begun preparations for 2023. As is always the case, the quarterback landscape appears to have shifted in that time. There are obvious stalwarts. Patrick Mahomes remains at the top. Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert are there with him. Other young guns like Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence are entering the conversation. Chicago Bears fans are left wondering about the national perception of Justin Fields. We may have a partial answer.
Marc Sessler released his latest quarterback power rankings for NFL.com. It featured the usual heavy hitter up top. It started getting interesting around #7 when Tua Tagovailoa made an appearance, followed by Jared Goff. Yet by far, the biggest surprise came at #13, where Fields popped up. It marks the first time a Bears quarterback has ranked that high in ages. Sessler didn’t seem troubled by the constant speculation that Chicago would be better off trading the young quarterback.
If anything, he made it sound like it would be a huge mistake.
“Ryan Poles won’t rule out taking a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick. Consider it an open invite for teams to call up the general manager and offer a king’s ransom. The idea of trading away Fields makes little sense after what he showed in 2023. Especially for a team with juicy draft capital and a titanic swath of cap space. The Athletic’s Nate Tice doesn’t see a quarterback in this year’s draft the equal of Fields, who rapidly developed into a devastating game-changer on the ground. He needs polishing as a passer, but he spent his second season with a flimsy group of wideouts. Chicago’s offseason resources can mend that in a hurry.”
Justin Fields passed the first test.
He proved he could be a difference-maker on the field. Sure, it came primarily on the ground, but it doesn’t change that Chicago was in several of their games merely because he was playing. If he could take such a large step despite playing in a brand new offense with little protection, then it stands to reason he can improve as a passer once said protection improves. That and the assumption the Bears will find better receiving talent as well. With his work ethic and arm talent, the odds are in his favor.
It comes down to whether GM Ryan Poles believes he can make that leap. Whispers are that Halas Hall loves Justin Fields. He really won them over back in November when he battled through tough circumstances to play some of his best games. There is a feeling of serious optimism in the building. Everything points to him staying put unless one of these quarterbacks in the draft makes a profound impression. That doesn’t seem likely. This year feels like it’s about bolstering that supporting cast.
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eecummings — You do realize that there are ways to evaluate an NFL player in addition to: “sample size;” whether the player (or a teammate) is at his “peak physically or mentally” and regardless of “the number of running plays available to be targeted” — don’t you? It’s called watch the damn game! Also, check the NFL’s “first down rule.” It still controls — and offers a QB who is capable of delivering on-time, on-target passes (to the receiver of his choice) an opportunity, not only, to “move the chains,” but also to reset the down and distance: to: 1st… Read more »
Thomas Gena, You have NO point. When a player isn’t on the field for passing plays, he gets no receptions. When you look at his snap count with the Bears, he simply wasn’t there to be thrown to. Small sample size prevents any realistic evaluation (remember your 20 yds per reception faux pas just a few posts ago). Of course, that is just before you look at the variables. The Bears run more than any other team in the league – that reduces the number of running plays available to be targeted. Even when cleared from injuries, players are still… Read more »
eecummings — You made my point. The “ESPN numbers” I mentioned in: “2019, 2020 and 2022 (with Chicago)” are very similar (on the WR end of the process) — but targeting your “WR2” two times per game; and the one time you exceed two targets, you get shut out (0 for 4, versus Detroit) — well, that’s totally unacceptable. Why can’t you understand that? Byron Pringle did his job, in very limited opportunities: 2 TDs, no drops, no fumbles. It’s up to Fields, as the Bears’ QB#1, to get his receivers the ball — on-time, and on-target (you may have… Read more »
Thomas Gena – Big yawn. Throwing crap at the wall in large quantities still just leaves a stink. 2021, Byron Pringle played 723 snaps for KC and did not miss a game with injury. He played 285 snaps for the Bears and missed 7 games (135 yds recieving). In 2020, he played 367 snap for KC and had 160 yards recieving. That is playing with Mahones – by your “logic” Fields got more out of Pringle last year than Mahones in 2020 (more per snap and more per reception). Moreover, using your approach, Fields got as many yards per catch… Read more »
eecummings — Of course, you know that Pro Football Focus (PFF) and AWS Next Gen Stats have made fortunes by amassing empirical data — I’ve referred to these primary sources often — particularly, the data related to the observed: “release times,” pressure to sack conversion ratio (p2s%), as well as NFL quantitative data (fumbles, targets, completions, penalties, sacks, pressures) — the primary information or the empirical evidence. Maybe you forgot? But, who could forget my Super Bowl LVII observations of the “release times” on Patrick Mahomes’ “quick passes” to WR, JuJu Smith-Schuster during their second half WCO breakout — to… Read more »