A rather surprising rumor has hit the NFL this week concerning the future of the Bears. According to a tweet from Jason la Canfora of the Washington Post, “more than one NFL general manager came away from the Senior Bowl fairly convinced that Justin Fields will be dealt.”
Going a step further, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe went as far as to assert that perhaps the Bears “should” move Fields. Volin puts forth that, as holders of the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears may be best served by trading away Fields for assets and selecting a new quarterback with the first pick of the draft.
Fields made large strides in his second year under center but still went 3-12 as a starter. He found a way to make more plays with his legs, but he was only able to average 149.5 passing yards per game, just over six less passing yards per game than his rookie year. He’s made comments, as well, that he feels “way slower” in the cold and that he struggles to play in the cold and wind of Chicago.
Many former executives have stated their beliefs that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud each have higher ceilings than Fields. It would also make sense financially if the Bears decide that Fields isn’t the future. Instead of waiting another two years until his contract is expired, wasting any current assets on the roster, why not draft a new quarterback in the first round and have five more potential years with a rookie quarterback’s salary and cap hit?
There are no direct sources from the team on this yet, but if these rumors hold true, it will certainly be something to keep an eye on as the 2023 NFL Draft draws near.
Here are a few other rumors out of the Windy City:
- When discussing how best to build an offense around Fields (should he stay the team’s focus at quarterback), The Athletic’s Adam Jahns clearly labeled who Chicago’s top free agent target should be. In an attempt to improve the offensive line, Jahns believes that Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. should be the first name on the Bears’ list. Chicago has an in with Brown. General manager Ryan Poles played a part in bringing Brown in from Baltimore when he was still a part of the front office in Kansas City. Adding Brown would allow tackle Braxton Jones to move over to the right side and would certainly provide an immediate improvement on the line. The Chiefs, however, may not let Brown hit the market. They are expected to use the franchise tag on him for a second year.
- What other positions need to be a priority this offseason, according to Jahns? Aside from offensive tackle, the Bears biggest positions of need are wide receiver and pass rusher. The need at wide receiver is an obvious one. Backup receivers Byron Pringle, Dante Pettis, and N’Keal Harry all are headed towards free agency, so at the very least, depth is needed. Past that, the Bears’ top receivers are Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and Equanimeous St. Brown. If Fields’s passing yards per game were any indication, none of these pass catchers had stellar years with each one failing to reach 500 yards receiving and Claypool proving to be a majorly disappointing offseason addition. The need for a pass rusher should be nearly as obvious. The leading sack getter for the team last season was rookie safety Jaquan Brisker with four. No one on the Bears defensive line or linebacking corps really strikes fear in an opposing quarterback, but adding a top pass rusher from the draft like Alabama’s Will Anderson or Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson or signing a top defensive lineman like Daron Payne in free agency may help add some sacks to the team’s tally next year.
Is there a market for Fields? I understand why the Bears would want to draft another QB. I don’t know why another team would trade anything of value for Fields at this point in time.
I am not advocating for this but the Colts play indoors and Houston is much warmer than Chicago. There is a connection should the Bears decide to move on. I don’t know if Fields is worth a top 5 pick from those two, but a deal could be made.
Fields needs a solid O-Line in front of him. He was at the wrong end of QB Sacks along with Russell Wilson at 55 on the year. He had 170 fewer attempts than Wilson which gave him a higher sack rate. Fields led all QBs and all but 6 RBs with 1143 rushing yards. As a QB his 8 rushing TDs trailed only Jalen Hurts who had 13.
He needs pass protection as well as passing game skills/technique development.
Maybe I don’t see enough of Fields, but unless there is some personal situation beyond the weather, it’s hard to fathom why the Bears deal him. Like a number of young QBs in the league, the kid needs protection, as you note. Hard to see some other QB or rookie coming in and performing miracles without it
He had a bad OL sure, but he still can’t throw the ball when he runs.
Last I checked Fields is typically running for large gains and is well past the line of Scrimmage, so year, he does not throw when running
Yep, and he already got hurt running for those big gains. How many playoff QBs run for big gains?
None
There have been a few but designed runs are much different than a QB deciding to run.
I don’t think the bears will be trading Fields. It’s all about getting more value for the #1 pick and seems like Poles is doing a phenomenal job at it. Let’s say they do trade Fields, they would get a ton of value in that trade. Not sure why anyone would question that?
Every G.M in the NFL, knows that at the present time, Fields is at the bottom of starting qb’s as a passer. His value, is his percieved potential. The Bears can probably get a first rounder in return ( not in the top 5). If they can, Poles needs to make the best deal possible, and trade Fields. If he doesn’t, it will keep the Bears down for at least the next two years.
Fields would be the top QB in this class if his college career ended this past year. Obviously, you’re not quite knowledgeable on the subject. Poles would be a fool to trade fields only to replace him with any of this years QB draftees.
Poles has proven that he can bottom out a team. Build one, then we can praise him
He could be interesting in Nashville, where they have some cap problems and a veteran QB who could be attractive as a bridge guy to a #1 pick.
Fields isn’t going anywhere and these “insiders” are doing Poles a favor by making other teams think they’ll keep the first pick. They have so many holes to fill that Poles almost has to trade back for more picks. He’s been quoted time and time again about needing to build through the draft. Besides, his first priority is in the trenches. The D-line was horrendous and an impact three technique, tackle and edge have to be found. They need linebacker and CB help as well. Then the O-line. Center, right tackle and left guard (There’s a chance Whitehair @ 14 mill will be gone) need upgrades. I think he’ll fill at least some WR depth through a trade, FA and the draft. This is a more than one offseason rebuild for this team and Poles has said that as well. And I think he wants Fields to have another season with a better team, to expand his game.
Wouldn’t trading Fields accomplish gaining additional draft picks..and give ability to draft new qb with first round contract. Fields has already burned two years.
Your logic, doesn’t fit the narrative that the media wants to push. They are trying to create a star, when ( presently) one doesn’t exist. Drive the square peg into the round hole, whether it fits or not!!
I’m guessing you’re the type that looks at stats and taps himself on the back for being an NFL professor!! If you have watched fields in his last 6 starts and can’t see something that can be special then I would give up on just looking at stats and tune in
He’s a special runne, but hasn’t proven he can pass in the NFL.
I think they’d get more picks trading out of the #1 spot than for Fields but it would depend on how much demand/competition there will be for that pick.
He said they need to build through the draft yet he idiotically traded the #32 pick for Chase Claypool trying to deflect criticism from dealing his best defensive player at the time. Poles is a clown hired by clown owners.
Way too soon to say Claypool won’t live up to that trade. See what he does in a better than lousy offense next season. And the Bears were just not gonna pay top dollar for an offside linebacker. Wait and see how high he goes for a three technique or an offensive tackle. The trenches is where he’s gonna spend big this offseason.
It wasn’t the 32nd pick when the trade happened. I would surmise that Poles honestly thought the Bears would finish with a record that was more around the 10-15th overall pick, in which case that 2nd rounder was not going to be that good.
Hogwash. He just traded arguably his best defensive player in Smith and Quinn was traded before that too. He couldn’t be that Incredibly ignorant to how bad we’d be because if he was, I don’t want someone like that making decisions for the Bears as he has no clue then. We already had a GM who tossed away picks like nothing and we don’t need another.
Poles wanted to deflect criticism away from trading Roquan and he ended up making a stupid mistake that made the Steelers better and now the Bears are worse off for making the trade. You can’t tell me Claypool would have learned the Packers scheme any quicker or made them significantly better because Claypool didn’t do a lick of anything for us in overpaying to get him a season sooner. In fact Poles looks dumber especially after seeing what the Browns paid for Amari Cooper before the season.
The Bears, even with an awful defense, were still in many games, at that moment of the trade he knew it would be better than the Ravens pick, but I seriously doubt he was thinking the Bears would getting the #1 overall. As others noted its an assumption that Claypool is going to not work out for this Org. In case you cannot fault Poles for making the move, as long as he learns from it if he gets burned this time.
I feel like instead of paying Lamar a crazy deal, Balt could get Fields and keep playing a similar system while staying in a rookie qb contract
There are quite a few qb desperate teams out there. Fields has ability, but he is very green and unpolished. It only takes one, to gamble on Fields making a big leap forward. After this year, that “potential”, will be greatly reduced. Depending on the draft position, I think the Bears can recoup a first rounder ( 7th -20th), and depending on how far down the pick is, between a second and a fourth rounder in addition. I wouldn’t think that Poles would want to trade with a team that is below the 15th, pick in this year’s draft.
Top ten rushing in the NFL last season, 23 years old and plays behind a bottom 3 offensive line in the NFL, but you just can’t see the value he has.
Nope. I also don’t see the value in blaming the line. I would rather have a first round draft pick than Fields. Sounds like the Bears would too, and they have had a lot better look at him than you or I. The problem with having a wildcat QB is that having a top 10 rusher at QB in the NFL gets you 3 wins and the first pick in the draft.
The Bears have NEVER had a QB, or WR for that matter, in their storied history. I don’t need more what-ifs. It’s been all what-ifs since Cutler, and he wasn’t much. Fields shows promise, I don’t think the Bears need to restart in an underwhelming QB class..
And the worst record in the NFL. BuT FiElDs runs aLoT
He doesn’t throw for many yards, I’ll give him that, but I can’t watch all these years of football and this crap ass franchise and think. Let’s roll the dice at the 19 other schlubs that full suck. Andy Dalton and Matt Nagy seem much more enticing?
Claypool was an in-season trade and a waste at that. The Bears should have traded the Ravens pick at best from the Roquan trade. Claypool will play with the Bears this year, but will likely be below St. Brown on the depth chart. Swing and a miss on this one.
Claypool will not be below st. Brown. Chase will be fine with an off-season with fields.
Claypool isn’t very good. Huge miss by the Bears, but even smarter by Pitt.
Too soon to say that it was a miss. After next season we’ll know.
No it’s perfectly fine to call it a miss. They traded the 32nd pick, late first round value, for a guy with 3 TD’s in 2 full seasons. Not to mention putting up drastically worse statistics every season of his career, AND he can’t stay off the internet. Couldn’t be happier the Steelers dumped him.
What he was or wasn’t with the Steelers doesn’t matter now. From the Bear’s standpoint, you’re looking at a small sample size of games on a team with a horrendous O-line and passing game. Jerry Rice in his prime couldn’t have been successful on that team. Yes, it’s too soon to call it a miss.
Unless he’s undergone some maturation in Chicago, Claypool is a very talented kid who can’t seem to get out of his own way
Glad the Steelers dealt him and got a much needed pick, but way too early to give up on him
Poles better hope Claypool makes a huge leap next year. That 1st pick in the second round could of netted them The C from Minnesota who with Carter could of solidified the middle of the OL and DL for years to come. Velus Jones made a leap at the end of last year and most rookie WR’s struggle the first year as they’ve never really had to block before. Now none of them is a # 1 but could be solid pieces to fit in with a true # 1.
Poles should get back into the top of the 2nd round with the trade down of either the #1 or Fields so not much lost by trading their # 2 selection, but I’d still rather have it right now than Claypool.
The real question is, Is trading Fields and drafting a new QB worth resetting the QB money tree worth losing the experience Fields has gotten the last 2 years? Because a new guy would have to start over. Now Fields hasn’t had a major injury( How I don’t know) But he obviously has to pass more and run less just for his own personal health.
Anyway like I said last year, We’ll find out what Poles thinks of Fields because the #1 pick doesn’t show up often. Poles didn’t draft him but he could also go another way. He could trade Fields, trade back from #1 and sign a guy like Derek Carr. There are a lot of QB’s flying around. Can’t wait.
I think Fields made some pretty significant strides. He seems like a budding star, or at least a legitimate QB to build around. I’m not sure of the price tag but I hope the Jets check in at least.
Averaging less passing yards per game is significant strides?
Fields is a glorified running back.
He has the ability to throw the ball, but you can never judge a QB until he has an OL in front of him. Poles has both the money and will soon have the draft capital to get the job done. There will be big changes on the OL next year. A #1 WR, an OL and an improved running game if they draft Chase Brown or somebody else to replace Montgomery and pair with Herbert because why pay Montgomery when you can reset the money at that position also fairly easily.
I think Whitehair will be gone with Patrick and Semian freeing up even more money. Either way, Poles shouldn’t be spending over say 15 million for any FA, Because that would be a waste because they’re not going to be that close even after this off season. Spend wisely, Not foolishly. I mean Montgomery is a nice player, But it’s not like they can’t get someone just as good a whole lot cheaper and that saves even more money.
His QBR more than doubled. Cherry picking a single stat and not providing proper context isn’t fair to Fields. His yards went down, sure, but he also had less attempts per game (22.5 to 21.2) and no Allen Robinson to throw to, plus he was sacked 55 times behind that atrocious OL.
His comp % is up, TD pass rate up, INT rate down, Y/A and AY/A up, plus he improved significantly as a runner and is arguably the best running QB in the league– and let’s not act like that’s a bad thing or detracts from his quarterbacking ability.
Fields is 5-20 as a two year starting qb. He is 0-7 in game tying or go – ahead drives. Fields led the NFL in turnovers in the past two seasons ( 27 starts, of a possible 43).
The Bears led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022. The offensive line was far from terrible. Fields holds the ball way too long, and still hasn’t learned to throw the ball away to avoid sacks. If his primary receiver isn’t open, Fields looks to take off running.
Poles has a great opportunity to trade Fields, and draft a rookie qb. It will be a colossal mistake, to keep Fields. After the 2023 season, his value will be miniscule.
A lot wrong with this comment.
5-20 is a team stat. Chicago has a terrible team. It makes sense.
Fields is credited with 2 GW drives (week 1 vs. SF and week 3 vs. HOU). You’ll have to dispute that with the statisticians or tighten your parameters because he obviously had go-ahead drives in those two.
I’m unaware of the numbers between the last two seasons, so perhaps that’s true, but I don’t really care what he did in 2021. As for 2022, he was 14th in the NFL in turnovers, according to PFref and StatMuse.
Basic level stats like leading the league in rushing is not how OLs are graded anymore. This isn’t 1973, it’s 2023. If you subscribe to Football Outsiders, take a look at the adjusted OL stats. Maybe “atrocious” is a bit harsh, but they were not a good unit, overall, especially during passing downs, in which they were BY FAR the worst unit on adjusted pass block rate. The OL was not a good unit, at least on passing plays. Maybe Fields holds on to the ball too long, but you know some other names who are right there with him in TT time? Mahomes, R. Wilson, Lamar, Watson, Daniel Jones. He’s a scrambler and athletic enough to move so naturally he’ll hold on to the ball longer like those guys.
Fields has terrible weapons, so if his primary WR isn’t open, he *should* take off running. Including RBs, he’s probably a top 12 or so runner in the league.
I’m not saying Fields is flawless, but it was year 2. He’s 23 with a high ceiling. I bet all those fans who wanted to give up on Hurts are pretty happy Roseman didn’t listen to them right about now.
Any WR in the NFL can get open if you give them enough time. Fields took off running every other play and never thought to throw the ball. His passing abilities are still a major concern in year 3 of his NFL career.
I think you are giving too much credit to the bottom barrel WRs. There are plenty who can’t get open to save their lives. Those guys usually wash out in a few years max. He also isn’t in year 3 yet. He played games in 2 seasons.
Thats just false false false.. If Fields ‘Took off’ right away more often than naught it was a designed run. Now, Fields may miss tight passing windows but its clear he was more afraid to make mistakes and let loose a pick, and with that WR core who could blame him? And Mooney is not a #1, he was a #1 for the Bears, he is easily a #2 or #3 for any decent team. I think this year we see Fields be the QB that many think he can be. Drafting another guy just makes little sense, especially if Fields goes to another team and does well.
Horrible comment…it’s obvious you’re not a bears fan and don’t watch the games, just the stats. To say the Oline wasn’t bad says enough!!! They were 1st in rushing because the Oline couldn’t block and Fields had to run. The bears weren’t 1st in rushing because of designed runs you goof!!!
Yep. The cure for a bad or young O line is running the ball, and the Bears showed that in spades
But he’s not like a QB from 1989!
It gets cold in New Jersey, too.
Not nearly as cold as the lake effect freezes the Great Lakes region gets. Plus, he played in Columbus, which is very comparable to–but actually cooler than–East Rutherford in September, October, November, December, and January on average, whereas Chicago is way colder than both in December and January.
He fits the falcons offense so well and riddler was not it.bears can sign a stopgap and redshirt their first pick.
Ridder actually looked pretty good in his small sample size. Not saying he is a franchise qb but he isn’t bad. Also fits offense so well? What running the ball 90% of the game. May as well trade away pitts and london if your going to waste all the talent running every play like the old days of Georgia tech. The falcons offense last year was beyond boring and predictable. Falcons need a pass first QB to go with the run game.
fields trash
Idiot
Let’s be honest. The Bears are as inept as the Jets at developing QB prospects. I imagine both teams could have found a way to screw up Mahomes had they drafted him.
I liked Fields coming into the draft and I think he made promising strides with a lousy supporting cast, but they’d be silly not to consider this. It’s not like he’s a sure thing at this point, and they’ve already burned two years of his rookie deal without having much of a core around him at all. Setting aside his prospects versus a Young or Stroud, I could understand resetting the clock. Of course, if they can trade down and nab an extra first, they can give Fields another year’s look and revisit the question with a likely strong QB class and extra draft capital next year.
Keeping Fields and trading down to rebuild the team can be forgiven if it fails. Trading a guy who looked like he could be a good QB, for another QB question mark (and also losing more in draft capital in trading Fields) is just silly. Its not like these QBs coming out really look much better than fields anyway.
Exactly!
He seemed to play pretty well in the cold at Ohio State?
I saw a lot Fields this year and the season he had was amazing considering how inept the Bears o-line was. He was on the run or getting sacked every time he dropped back. Fields still has a lot to learn about the passing game but he has special athletic gifts. I would be shocked to see Bears trade him. If they make him available I am sure there will be a strong market for him. Agree Atlanta would seem to be a great fit..
Do you realize that the Bears went 3-14, the worst record in the NFL? Fields was an outstanding runner, but one of the worst passing qb’s in the league. He has extremely poor “field awareness”, this contributes to his inflated sack total, and fumbles. His athletic ability, is why he could still bring a first rounder, and maybe slightly more in a trade. After this coming year, his value will be virtually nothing. Fortunately Poles didn’t draft Fields, so he may want to recoup a first rounder, and pick his qb of choice, in this draft.
No way poles gets a first rounder for fields.
Why not?
Ok, who, in their right mind, would give anything valuable for Fields if a franchise who needs a QB, is trying to move him for QBs in this draft that look awfully similar, if not worse, than Fields?!
His reading of defenses vastly improved throughout the year! He’s got one of the best deep balls in the league. His main weakness is throwing receivers open as well as needing to trust his receivers. I will say I’ve never seen an offensive line let up pressure so fast and easy as the bears line this past season. It was horrendous and I think fields just expected it after a while and decided his legs were the best antidote. Fields didn’t lose his passing ability, that’s still there. He’s got to trust his team. Next year at this time he’s gonna be worth 3 1st’s
This, Fields needs to get some confidence to make those tight window throws but I think he can do it, its just a matter of confidence. Get him a receiver that will fight for the ball and make though tough catches and he will be fine.
Stopped reading after ‘Jason la Canfora’. The guy is a hack who at best is a tool GMs use to their advantage to spread rumors.
Agreed. He’s a moron.
Fields is a dead end long term. This is the year to deal him if they are considering it.
Why? You just said it, if the Bears try to move him for a QB in this draft who is likely the same, or worse than Fields could be, then who would give the Bears anything for that guy? Especially when the Bears need a QB? All this is smoke. Poles would be nuts to move Fields for another QB with less knowledge of if they can be a good QB.Especially when they know they could have a good one with Fields, and trading that pick gives the Bears more picks this year, and likely a first rounder next year (which may be good enough to get another QB then if Fields really doesn’t pan out with a better Oline and weapons next season))