The Chicago Bears have a tough decision ahead of them. They entered 2023 seeking answers at the quarterback position. GM Ryan Poles took the calculated gamble to keep Justin Fields despite holding the #1 overall pick in the draft. He felt the young quarterback had shown enough flashes last year to justify another season. This time, it would be with more help around him. Things didn’t start well. Through the first three games, Fields barely completed 57% of his passes, averaged 175 yards, and had three touchdowns and four interceptions.
However, things seemed to take a turn at the start of October. Fields has completed 67% of his passes in his four starts since, averaging 211 yards, and has had nine touchdowns to two interceptions with a 116.5 passer rating. It could be argued his performances against Denver, Washington, and Detroit were the three best games of his career. Despite this, rumors persist the organization may still make a change at quarterback next off-season. One scout told Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago that it would be an unnecessary game.
“There’s still a lot to like,” the AFC scout said. “The playmaking, the upside. I think when they let him play how he feels comfortable, you see how good it can be. If they can get him to play like he did [against Detroit] consistently, then you have what you’re looking for. If you trade a guy with that talent, you better be right.”
He wasn’t alone in this assessment.
Another personnel guy thinks the Bears risk falling into the trap of having something good but casting it aside, hoping for something great. People fail to realize how big of a risk drafting a 1st round quarterback is. It’s not the guarantee everybody likes to think.
“What’s the bust rate of quarterbacks taken in the first round? Forty percent,” the player personnel staffer said. “So it’s already a gamble, and now you look back on the decision they made last offseason, and it makes you think: What’s the confidence level that we can get this right when we either missed last year or saw it and passed anyways?”
Justin Fields might be a few surrounding pieces away.
The problem since he arrived in Chicago was how limited the pieces around him were. The offensive line was terrible, and his arsenal of weapons wasn’t much better. Poles worked to correct both problems this past off-season. He bolstered the line with veteran guard Nate Davis and 1st round tackle Darnell Wright. He also scored a trade for wide receiver D.J. Moore. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Fields played his three best games when all three players were on the field together.
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Rather than abandon their efforts of rekindling his career at a potential turning point, they could use the 2024 off-season as one final push to get him over the hump. The upcoming draft class is stacked with wide receiver talent, headlined by Ohio State superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. There will also be two stud left tackles and a stud tight end. They can also make a strong push to finally get the defense fixed, perhaps with another pass rusher.
Let’s not forget a change at head coach as well. Things feel close to a breakthrough. A case can be made to let Justin Fields finish what he started.
At #1 take best player Harrison. Then, trade other 1st for multiple picks to add DE, Center and Safety so weaknesses become strengths!
1st round QBs are risky. Manziel, Leaf, DJones, etc were busts. Others like Trubisky are backups. So wait to select QB with top pick in 2025.
With a solid OL, DL and top receivers, Bears can finally contend again.
Don’t compare Fields to “what if.”
Compare him to Trevor Lawrence.
Who is going to get his team into the Super Bowl?
Lawrence has a coach who has done it with Carson Wentz. I think he can do it with Lawrence.
Fields is better than Wentz. So what is stopping the Bears?
Think of it THAT way.
If the Bears trade away Fields and draft someone, they are casting away great for a potential to be great. And I actually think that potential is LESS than 40%. I have loved Caleb Williams, but his reaction to losing doesn’t give me confidence that he’s mentally tough. Drake Maye, coming from NC, hasn’t been stalked and beaten by Michigan, Ohio State, Penn St. Alabama and Georgia. Those schools have the athletes Maye is going to deal with in the pros. Can either of them deal with lousy coaches when they have to play defensive coordinators who are setting out… Read more »
“BuT hE cAnT rEaD dEfEnSe!”
— Clowns everywhere
34Forever: True dat. Watched Brock steal several bases against the Cubs. Ernie Broglio wasn’t bad for a few years, but he wasn’t Brock. The question isn’t whether Fields will be the best QB in football for the next 5 years. The question is whether he gives the Bears a better chance of winning a Super Bowl, and then multiple super bowls, than Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or any other top QB in this year’s draft. Also note that sticking with Fields effectively gets the Bears a very high pick (possibly #1 overall) that they can use on another player or… Read more »