Last year, the Bears made a bold move centered around confidence in Justin Fields. The team traded the No. 1 overall pick before free agency, becoming the first team to knowingly trade a No. 1 choice before April since the draft settled in that month in 1976. A year later, GM Ryan Poles will survey his options.
Chicago is in the same situation this year, though it is Carolina’s pick that landed at No. 1 overall. Fields fared better as a passer to close out the 2023 season, but it is still viewed as somewhat less likely the Bears trade a top pick again to build around a quarterback chosen by a previous regime. Poles acknowledged this rare situation Wednesday.
“We’re in information gathering mode right now,” Poles said, via WGN’s Kaitlin Sharkey. “Justin got better; he can lead this team. At the same time, there’s a unique situation and we have to look at everything.”
One year ago today, Poles said he would need to be blown away by one of the QB prospects to bail on Fields and start over. With Caleb Williams — this year’s expected No. 1 choice — viewed as a better prospect compared to the Bryce Young–C.J. Stroud–Anthony Richardson lot, the third-year Bears GM looks like he will operate more deliberately. The Bears hold two top-10 picks because of the Panthers’ eagerness to pick Young; they could benefit in multiple ways.
Option A would be to keep Fields and trade the No. 1 choice for more than they collected from Carolina last year. Two future firsts could be a conceivable haul. But Fields has also struggled frequently as a passer, particularly late in games. Passing on a prospect like Williams and seeing Fields fail to live up to his end of that deal would threaten Poles’ job security, especially with a team president (Kevin Warren) that did not hire him in place. Fields’ fifth-year option also must be picked up or declined by May; the 2021 first-round pick’s time at a low rate is winding down.
Option B points to Williams, the 2022 Heisman recipient. While the USC product did not put together the kind of season he did as a sophomore, the latest Lincoln Riley-developed passer is still viewed as a high-end prospect who projects to be a superior NFL passer than Fields. Williams also will be attached to a rookie contract through 2027, not becoming extension-eligible until January of ’27. While the Bears will not land nearly as much in a trade for Fields (perhaps a second-rounder) as they would the No. 1 selection, three years of cost control and a better QB prospect — in the view of most — represents an enticing route.
It does not sound like Poles will be committing to another March decision, indicating (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin) he is fine taking this decision “all the way to April.” The Bears retained Matt Eberflus today — a decision Poles confirmed was his, while noting he, Warren and George McCaskey were on the same page — but ditched their top offensive staffers, firing OC Luke Getsy, QBs coach Andrew Janocko and others. Will the next Chicago play-caller be drawing up plays for Fields or Williams?
If I was starting a franchise next season, I’d want Williams. Trade Fields and draft your role players to help Williams adapt.
Trade out of #1 – trade back no further than 8
Possibly Falcons trade up for Williams (new head coach) and they already have Robinson, Allegier, some oline pieces, London, and Pitts
Surround fields with a better supporting cast at C, LT, WR, TE depth
Take a development QB in 3rd round like Shedeur Sanders
Take a development quarterback after you’ve watched this franchise fail to develop quarterback after quarterback, I like Fields, he’s a good leader and he’s good for the communities in Chicago, but the dude cannot pass in the 4th quarter, it’s been 3 years
Take one as a back up to fields? Yes. I’d improve the backup qb position by spending a day 3 pick on someone with a similar skill set.
The Bears have a C+ QB1 that’ll need to be paid around $45m in a season or two. Or you can try again in the draft, knowing that the draft is a crap shoot, but will have plenty of money to build around the next guy. If they want more picks, then trade the 9th pick and load up.
They’re blowing smoke so hard rn lol
This is such an easy decision but watch the bears talk themselves into keeping Fields. If Ryan poles wants a job after next year he has to take Williams.
He talked himself into keeping Eberflub, so nothing would surprise me now.
Nothing against Fields, I think he can be an ok/average starter in the NFL, but he will never have the potential that Williams/Maye or even Daniels has. When you have a chance to draft a top QB in a QB driven league, you do it. I think it’s a no brainer before even taking into account how expensive Fields will be soon compared to the 4-5 years of ‘cheap’ control on Williams/May. Honestly, I’m not even sure how it’s up for debate.
Williams – very QB friendly system
Maye – all projection
Daniels – Justin Fields without NFL experience
With QB being the coveted ‘skill’ position and having the first choice on players combined with needing a new OC I just don’t see Fields being the starter in Chi-Town.
However I’m not sold on Williams as he’s had some mediocre showings. However I’m not an experienced evaluator.
That stated – who’s the #1 player, regardless of position in this upcoming draft? Thinking it’d be a WR named Marvin Jr.
I agree. I also am not convinced that there is as huge a gap between Williams and the 1A tier of quarterbacks who may also be available; someone like Penix, for example, could definitely be available by the time that the Bears’ second pick rolls around. Perhaps, if the Bears are insistent on taking a QB, one will be available later. Trading down again does not seem that bad to me, but if they don’t, they don’t necessarily have to take a QB with that pick. The second pick could also be traded for draft capitol for next year, in this case.
I don’t know if Williams or the other top QBs will pan out, either, but I don’t think that Chicago has to start their rebuild immediately, and another QB may be available later if they decide that they need one. There aren’t any surefire slam dunks that are guarantees in this draft as I see it, but it is quite deep numbers wise at the position.
Take Williams, try and get a first for fields, even a future first to a non playoff team, settle for a second if you have to. Then use #9 and everything else to build around Williams. Knowing the bears though, they’ll probably keep fields and trade the #1.
Fields is in no way garnering a first
A fourth maybe
To a qb needy team he absolutely could if they think he fits their system. You’re high if you think he only nets a fourth
Nobody is trading a 1st for 2 years of Fields and paying him his 5th year contract.
At best they get a 2nd or 3rd or a consitional pick
‘consitional’?
From a teacher – that’s an “F-“
Might be the word you’re looking for is ‘conditional’.
fh
Im actually partially blind. Retired. Sorry my spelling mistake hurt your feelings. I can recommend a nice crisis counselor if you’re experiencing any issues mentally.
You’re so funny. I figured your fingers were too large for your iphone6
Nope. Degenerative eyes
Happens to all us old guys, and loss of hearing and balance with inability to remember why we got up from the chair and what it was we were going to fetch!
trade fields he’s to run orientated and gets hurt. and u have the top pick and able to get the top QB on the board and Fields hasnt improved enough thus far to warrant passing on a top QB in the draft . I think fields runs to much to stay healthy and that’s apart of him . I just don’t see passing on a QB upgrade
So Poles- whose decided Eberflub is the future of the franchise and whose GUY was Getsy, is gonna find a new OC who will magically transform Fields into a guy whose not the worst rated 4th quarterback in the league? This is the same “aspire to mediocrity” philosophy that McCaskey has had for decades.
4th quarter quarterback…
You got all of your answers when Eberflus was retained, which was the right move by the way. I have issues with how he coaches in game, but that was a .500 roster tops, and he got them to 7-10. Chicago will never be a franchise driven by QB play. Just not going to happen, and Caleb Williams legit might be crazy how he acts. I don’t think the HC is going to be wanting to start over with a rookie qB with his job on the line. They got four starters out of last year’s trade, so the correct answer is to do that again.
Naw. Eberflus is absolutely the wrong guy. It hasn’t worked for two years and it ain’t gonna work next year either. He’s completely clueless when it comes to offense and lost in the 4th quarter- Just like Fields. And starting with a rookie QB and somehow stumbling into a great OC is the only hope he has of lasting more than next season. Regardless, even if they stumble into a playoff game, he’ll be out-coached by Kyle Shanahan or someone that actually is more than a defensive coordinator.
The Bears have two months to play coy on Fields in order to assess/drive up any offers on him and/or the first spot in the draft – but at best they’ll simply let him play out the final year of his rookie deal and then let him walk.
Bears have literally never been a QB driven team. You’re just setting up a flake like Williams to fail there. Trade the pick. Funny thing is that I said here in the spring after all their moves, a 7-10 or 8-9 season would be a good season for them. They finished 7-10. Got four starters out of last years’ trade. Do it again.
Fields is gone.
How many NFL games has Williams won? Exactly
What exactly is Justin Fields record as a starter? 11-29…or something like that?
They’re gonna keep Fields. Him and Flus are a package deal. Neither will get extended unless Fields puts it all together next season.
They’ll get a haul for the #1 pick. The key is getting at least 1 extra 1st rounder NEXT year. THEN if Fields doesn’t prove he’s the guy next season, they will have ample draft capital to replace him in the NEXT draft. Before any trades, they already have two 2nds next year (CAR) They’ll get AT LEAST another 2025 1st & 2nd by trading the #1 pick.
In the meantime, you’ll have multiple 1sts this year and PLENTY of cap space to add more talent.
Poles is in a win-win position.
In the meantime, take the
Clearly the Bears are posturing.
The move to make is clearly to take Williams, his superior ability and affordable cost and to build up Fields to maximize his trade value and then trade him away to some team that thinks they can unlock his potential and that Fields’ untapped potential is possibly is worth the down the line contract cost.
I’ve seen Conner Bedard pass more accurately than Williams who is just another product of the USC hype machine. If the Bears draft him they get another Darnold, Sanchez or Leinart.
Williams does remind one of Mahomes with his evasion technique but can he carry an NFL team. However if the bears elect to draft Williams and keep fields for ‘24 while the former gets acclimated that might be the ticket. Only team I thought might work in a trade was Seattle with Carroll as HC but that ship has sunk.