It’s NFL Draft SZN and most football fans will be glued into the annual Scouting Combine that is happening in Indianapolis this week. The Underwear Olympics, as some people refer to it, will confirm what we believe about some prospects. Other prospects will rise up draft boards with impressive performances, while some may fall down those same draft boards. The Chicago Bears currently possess the number one overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, so they are ON THE CLOCK for all intents and purposes.
It has been reported that several players will not participate in any NFL Draft Combine testing drills, electing only to do physicals and speak with teams. Most notably, USC QB Caleb Williams, North Carolina QB Drake Maye, and Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. will not take part in any drills. The aforementioned Caleb Williams is the projected number-one overall pick, but there has been some question if he would be willing to play for the Bears.
What Could the Chicago Bears do with the Number One Pick?
With the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have a plethora of options. However, with incumbent QB Justin Fields still on the roster, GM Ryan Poles has to figure out what direction to take the team. There has been some speculation that Fields could want to exit Chicago, as he recently scrubbed all mentions of the Bears from his social media pages.
Poles seemed to hint at what he might do with the number one pick.
Bears’ GM Ryan Poles said today that, if the team decides to draft a QB with the No. 1 overall pick, he doesn’t think it would be right not to trade Justin Fields before free agency begins. pic.twitter.com/0TkSSpZzoW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2024
Caleb Williams is likely to be drafted with the number one overall selection. However, if the Bears believe Williams will not want to play for Chicago, they could look at Drake Maye. In most years, Maye would probably be the obvious, slam dunk choice. He has elite arm talent to go along with tremendous athletic ability and would be a solid fit in Chicago. They could also look to trade down and pick from a deep QB draft class. Jayden Daniels, JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix are likely to be selected within the early rounds.
If the Bears do indeed look to trade Justin Fields before free agency begins, they will have to do so fairly soon. NFL teams can start negotiating with free agents on March 11 and can officially sign players on March 13. Fields could be the first major domino to fall in terms of player movement this offseason.
Where Could Justin Fields be Traded?
Atlanta Falcons
Justin Fields is from Atlanta, so this would be a dream situation for the Harrison High School product. The Falcons have a dire need at the quarterback position, and Fields would be a welcome addition. New head coach Raheem Morris and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will look to implement their own offensive identity. They have elite talent already on board (RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, and TE Kyle Pitts). With said talent, Atlanta is potentially a QB away from winning the NFC South division.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Things have not worked out with QB Kenny Pickett with the Steelers. Drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he has battled injury and inconsistency since. The Steeler offense has looked mediocre at best and could use an infusion of life and hope. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has a run-heavy playbook, and Justin Fields is a tremendous runner at the QB position. With Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Deshaun Watson already in the division, the Steelers need a quarterback to keep up.
New England Patriots
Fourth in the AFC East and lacking any hope of crawling out of the basement anytime soon, the Patriots need to act swiftly for new head coach Jerod Mayo. The Bills and Dolphins have established themselves as playoff contenders at the top of the division. The Jets also have some hope with Aaron Rodgers returning in 2024. All three teams have talented rosters, which New England desperately needs to compete with. Bill Belichick failed to continue the winning tradition after Tom Brady left, leading to his exit this offseason. Justin Fields could bring some life to this depleted roster and allow the Patriots to focus on other positions.