As the legal tampering period is set to open in the NFL free agency signing spend-a-thon, the Chicago Bears, at the time of this writing, are no closer to revealing their plans for the quarterback of the future. No story in this year’s offseason has drawn more attention than what Bears’ GM Ryan Poles will do with Justin Fields.
Chicago Bears: What Is The Team Doing With Justin Fields?
As the legal tampering period is set to open in the NFL free agency signing spend-a-thon, the Chicago Bears, at the time of this writing, are no closer to revealing their plans for the quarterback of the future. No story in this year’s offseason has drawn more attention than what Bears’ GM Ryan Poles will do.
Teammates in Chicago have strongly advocated for Fields. His athletic ability is unquestioned. His leadership is note-worthy. However, his performance on the field has not provided the results. He has four game-winning drives in his career and has turned the ball over several times late in games.
With the first pick in this year’s draft, Ryan Poles has a career-defining decision directly in front of him. The third-year GM passed on Bryce Young and C. J. Stroud last year. He traded the top choice last year to Carolina. In return, he added a top-ten receiver in DJ Moore, the best offensive tackle in the 2023 draft, and rookie CB Tyrique Stevenson. Stevenson became a strong CB after struggling early. Carolina also traded their first pick in this year’s draft and their second-round pick in 2025.
Carolina’s first-round pick this year is this year’s top overall selection. The Bears also have the 9th selection in round one. While Justin Fields has shown improvement year over year, the overwhelming sentiment feels it’s time for Poles to take Caleb Williams and trade Justin Fields.
What is the Trade Market For Justin Fields?
There is a logjam of free-agent quarterbacks, which has stymied trade opportunities for Fields. Baker Mayfield, Kurt Cousins, and Russell Wilson are looking for new teams. According to multiple sources, those big dominoes must fall early in the free-agency period before a trade opportunity presents itself to Chicago.
Should Poles Draft Caleb Williams?
In recent memory, Caleb Williams enters the draft as one of the most heralded rookie quarterbacks. Williams’ ability to throw the ball from multiple arm angles and his arm strength highlights his immense talent. He has been labeled as a “Can’t-Miss” pick in the 2024 draft.
Poles Faces A Dilemma
When Ryan Poles was hired in 2022, he tore down the Bears’ roster. As a result, the Bears finished with a 3-14 record that year, losing a franchise record ten straight after starting 3-4. The rebuild began last off-season. Chicago was not competitive early in 2023 but improved as the season progressed. The midseason addition of DE Montez Sweat was a catalyst as the Bears’ defense ended the season, leading the league in interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, Luke Getsy refused to mold the offense to align with Justin Fields’ strengths. The offensive line was constantly in a state of flux due to injuries that plagued the offensive line all season. The season ultimately turned on three devastating losses. The Bears held a double-digit lead each time and failed to close the game.
If the Bears had won those games, there would be no argument. Poles would be wise to trade the top pick for a haul of draft capital in this year’s draft while accumulating extra picks in 2025. This year’s draft is stocked with players the Bears need most to fill the remaining holes in the roster at WR, Edge, OL, and Safety.
The draft begins Thursday, April 25th, and will be televised live on the NFL Network and ESPN.
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