Ryan Poles broke with tradition by moving the No. 1 overall pick before free agency last year. The Bears and Panthers finalized their swap involving the 2023 top selection on March 10. It does not look like Chicago will delay its latest decision involving a No. 1 choice much longer.
Both Poles and president Kevin Warren have described this as a unique situation, and while the Bears have offered praise for their three-year starting quarterback, the likelihood of a reset around Caleb Williams remains. The Bears are meeting about their QB situation, and SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates the expectation is a plan is expected to emerge by the time clubs gather at the Combine next week.
[RELATED: Bears Would Seek ‘Historic Haul’ For No. 1 Pick]
The Bears received inquiries on Justin Fields at the Senior Bowl last month, Breer adds, and while the team has not shopped its three-year starter, those discussions in Mobile helped shape the Chicago incumbent QB’s trade value. A late-season report pegged Fields as being worth at least a Day 2 pick, probably more.
A handful of teams will send reps to Indianapolis knowing a quarterback pickup resides as the centerpiece of their respective offseason plans. It is likely one such club — presumably a team that does not hold a top-three draft choice that could address a deficiency without trading up — will end up with Fields. That team will, then, need to make a decision on the 2021 No. 11 overall pick’s fifth-year option by May 2. An acquiring team could still have Fields tied to a $6MM cap number in 2024, providing some additional evaluation time.
This situation still reminds of a higher-profile version of the Jets’ 2021 outlook. The Jets did not, however, pull the trigger on moving Sam Darnold until April 5, 2021. While some in the organization backed a plan in which the team would keep Darnold, Zach Wilson became the team’s eventual preference. That swap involved a No. 2 overall pick, as the Jaguars held the top choice that year (Trevor Lawrence). The Bears having the No. 1 pick and Williams access further decreases the likelihood they will stick with a QB that still carries significant questions regarding his future as a passer.
Moving Fields before free agency would stand to boost the trade return, as more teams will need passers by then compared to the Bears following the Jets’ 2021 timetable. New York’s plan obviously backfired, though Darnold has not shown himself to be a long-term starter option elsewhere. But Chicago has the rare opportunity to add an impact talent at No. 1, pick up assets for its starter and use the No. 9 overall pick to bolster its roster around Williams. The 2022 Heisman winner will be tied to a rookie contract until at least 2026, giving the Bears some interesting opportunities — should they go this route as expected. Poles passing on the 2023 and ’24 QB classes to stick with Fields could certainly threaten his job security, should the Ryan Pace-era draftee fail to match the likes of Williams and C.J. Stroud.
Customary in situations involving uncertainty about a player’s future with a team, Fields has unfollowed the Bears on Instagram (h/t the New York Post). Such developments barely qualify as newsworthy anymore, given the rate at which disgruntled players go to this well. But it is certainly possible Fields is dealt before the legal tampering period begins March 11. That will give at least one team QB clarity ahead of a market that may well feature Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield respectively re-sign with the Vikings and Buccaneers.
The Falcons, Raiders and Steelers profile as teams who would make sense as Fields suitors. Atlanta has already been connected to the Georgia native, despite passing on him for Kyle Pitts at No. 4 overall three years ago. Mike Tomlin has been mentioned as a Fields fan, though a recent report indicated Pittsburgh is not likely to target a passer who would displace Kenny Pickett atop the depth chart. The team is eyeing a competition between Pickett and a veteran. The Raiders now have Luke Getsy in place as OC, and the two-year Bears play-caller has praised Fields. But Antonio Pierce‘s team also has been closely tied to Jayden Daniels, due to the new Las Vegas HC’s past at Arizona State with the 2023 Heisman winner.
With concerns about the 2025 QB draft class emerging, a team removing itself from that future pursuit — via a Fields trade — makes sense. So long as the acquiring club is convinced Fields’ 2023 development is a sign he can be a long-term option. That mystery team may reveal itself soon.
Here is news for the Chicago fans hot off the presses- Fields may/ or may not be traded and Bellinger may/ or may not sign with the Cubs!! No need to keep writing these articles everyday.
I am not the biggest fields fan but think they would be better off trading back slightly, getting Harrison, getting a big OLineman, and keeping Fields plus of course whatever else draft capital they get
Fields is awful. The Bears need a qb, and can choose between Williams and Maye!! They will never have this opportunity again. Poles will draft one of those qb’s at #1. The only decision is which one!!
I don’t think Fields is a future high value quarterback, but I would like to see the Jets trade for him, sit him to learn under Rodgers for a year, and see how he develops. Could be worth it. ♂️
Zero chance. Anyone that trades for Fields this offseason is realistically picking up his fifth year option, which the Jets can’t realistically do. They also can’t spend the draft capital it will take on a second quarterback when they have significant needs elsewhere and are already missing a second rounder.
Man, Chicago’s in a great but stressful situation. A franchise altering situation especially if they get it right. This new front office has been impressive so far BUT this offseason will really determine how impressive.
Plenty of cap room, some legit young talent already in place and a monumental draft/free agent period approaching.
Get your popcorn ready, it’s about to be a crazy couple of months… one way or another.
Basically if the Bears aren’t ready to commit $40 million+ per years to Fields, they should trade him. He has one cheap year left and they have to decide on his fifth year option before it. If they keep him and trade the pick, they’re choosing him as their path forward and they’re going to have to pick up his option and realistically extend him, which isn’t going to be cheaper than Daniel Jones. This is less true of other teams that could acquire him, because a team that trades for Fields isn’t turning down a chance at Williams or Maye.
Bingo. It’s all about contractual obligations. They’ll lose as many games with Caleb as they will with Fields next season, and not be stuck with a massive QB contract in 2025. If Poles can somehow get Caleb and MHJ, that will be a home run.
That seems unlikely, but there are plenty of good receivers in the draft, and their second first rounder could also score them a strong edge talent to play opposite Sweat.
If they pick up the option, are they obligated to pay Fields $40 million? I don’t understand this.
According to Spotrac, Fields 5th year option would be worth about 22 million.
If they trade the pick, they’re presumably buying into Fields enough to extend him. Otherwise they shouldn’t pass up the best opportunity they’re going to get to replace him just to evaluate him for another year or two.
That decision was made after game #3, ( K C) this year. It’s only a matter of how much Poles can get in return. That question will be answered within 3 weeks!!
Trading down the pick and adding assets is the way to go. There is no other option IMO. Draft Harrison and an OL then a C and another G and make the Line solid. They should be able to get another TE and S later or in FA. Make the team solid then with at least a 1st and 2 seconds next year you can fill in the pieces. Who says the Bears have to draft a QB? They could get somebody in FA who might fit with a solid Offense Ala Brock Purdy. He might not have to be spectacular then.
We’re not gonna see eye to eye on this one Mike. Fields is just never gonna take the Bears to a SB, regardless of who’s around him. Good guy. Runs great. But after three seasons he is still chronically unable to consistently get rid of the ball. That will just not fly in the current NFL. On top of that, it won’t happen while Eberflub is still HC cause he’s never gonna take a team there either. Their best hope is to draft a QB at 1 and even in a worse case scenario where Eberflub blows late game leads again and gets canned, the kid will have a chance with a better hire at HC after only one year.
At 1st it was hard for me to turn down all those drafts we’d get for the 1st pick. But Caleb is a legit talent and we just gotta take our shot with him. Build the best possible team around him
Caleb choked against top 25 team’s D. Look up his stats, they’re a joke.
So was the team around him
I’d be more worried about the team that hired USC’s offensive coordinator than about Williams. He’s only 22 and he didn’t have elite talent around him. Definitely has stuff to work on, but Better to draft the guy who’s shown he can regularly do things only a few people can do. Heck, Mahomes didn’t even have a winning record his last year in school.
He’s the dummy who followed him from Oklahoma, so that’s on him. At the end of the day, he played significantly worse against good defenses. Pac 12 teams play horrid defense, which is why a guy like Bo Nix went from looking like an UDFA at Auburn to runner-up for the Heisman at Oregon.
Yep. I wonder if these people think NFL defenses get easier than Pac 12 defenses. He wasn’t just worse against good defenses. He stunk. Like night and day good to bad depending on opponent quality.
Eberflus won’t be blowing late game leads, because Fields will no longer be in Chicago!! Eberflus is a good coach, and there will be no doubt about that this coming year!! Fields got one head coach and two o c’s fired in three years!! Getsy had no problem getting another job right away. Coaching has never been the problem, an incompetent qb, has been!!
Fields has played with one legitimately great WR for exactly one season. His passer rating to DJ Moore was over 120 going into week 18. That was nearly league best (ie ELITE), though when game was tight defenses could shut down that connection bc of few other weapons and a strategically challenged OC. With more weapons (eg, Harrison, Bowers, AllPro O-lineman) and better play calling, Fields could become consistently elite…period.
Any arguments regarding cost savings are overblown since for the next two seasons, Fields would earn less than Caleb, approximately $26.9 versus Caleb’s $25M signing bonus plus $2.5M in year two. The real difference wouldn’t begin until 2026 when instead of say $45M annually for Fields, Caleb would cost about $10M for two years.
That said, If they can get a haul for Caleb (ie, 3 firsts, a second and a third), the smart play would be to make that trade REGARDLESS of who the QB would be. Last year’s #1 pick and many others prove any pick is never certain. Plus, the Bears roster will not be on par with the elite teams for several more seasons without hitting on a lot of young players through the draft.
The Bears with Caleb would likely not be better than with Fields in 2024, given the extra picks and that descreptancy would get larger with additional top 50 picks in future years.
Why play for 2026? Keep Fields, trade the pick for a haul and just win baby!
That’s exactly my point. These people think that if the Bears draft Williams at #1 we’re going to the Super Bowl. NOBODY is taking the Bears to the Super Bowl next year with this team. Hey Poles has made a good start. He’s mostly made good choices. There have been a couple of clunkers but it’s better, Nobody can deny that.If you can get 4 or 5 starters out of one draft pick you have to take it. They are not a QB away. They are multiple players away. They still have holes. The cap is mostly in a good place. I only see one bad salary left and it can be gone after this year(Davis). Poles has built a foundation. But it’s only a base. He needs to keep building up.
Rondon- The Bears have 1 good WR.They have 3 good OLinemen. They have 1 good DE. 1 Good Safety. No star RB and 1 good TE. That doesn’t scream Super Bowl to me.
Facts:
WR- You have DJ Moore, A guy who can get open but hasn’t really caught the ball( Scott ), A guy who can’t get open or catch the ball ( Velus Jones) and that’s it.
OL- You have 3 good Linemen( Jones, Wright, Jenkins) And Jenkins can’t stay healthy. Davis, Borom who suck and Kramer who they never bothered to play so is a mystery.
S- You have 1 good S in Brisker and a bunch of ?’s.
DE- You have good one ( Sweat ), 1 fair one ( Walker ) and bums.
RB- You have 2 nice ones but no stud
TE- Kmet and nothing
I don’t know about you but I know if you throw Williams into that he’s going to get killed. That’s not a roster that screams Super Bowl to me.
But if you trade down and get another 2nd or 2, A 3rd and a 1st next year then it looks better.
You add Harrison to Moore and Scott and you have a start at WR.
You add Fashanau who can play anywhere but C on the line and now you have 4 good linemen and are more versatile.
You draft a C or S or TE with the 2nd and 2 3rds you’d have that looking better.
You trade Johnson, save the money and sign Hunter and that looks better.
You are already solid at CB and LB and DT.
Then next year you have 2 1sts again and at least 2 2nds.
Now you’re really deep and you can THINK about adding a rookie QB to that and you have something. Adding Williams now and you dump Fields for nothing, You still have NOTHING.
I can’t explain it any better than that.
“With more weapons (eg, Harrison, Bowers, AllPro O-lineman) and better play calling, Fields could become consistently elite…period.”
Counter argument – he had decent weapons and a decent OL and still showed he can’t process a play in 2.5 seconds. Couldn’t decide to stay in the pocket or move. At times early last season, he looked utterly lost, but did improve as the season went by. Bears had one of the NFLs top running games too, which is supposed to help young QBs. No wonder Getsy called bubble screens, Fields couldn’t handle complicated plays!
Nowhere or anywhere in what I said, Does it say it makes FIELDS any better. I just said it makes the day they figure out what they want to do at QB makes the whole team better. First you build the team. Then you find the QB. That’s the way it works the best, Always has.
You build a team around a QB. Never be a better time than now. CJ Stroud didn’t have much more to work with than Fields did, and look how much better he did- as a rookie! Fields ain’t the guy to build around and nows the time to move on.
But finding the QB is the hardest part. Only so many chances to draft high enough to get one without mortgaging your drafts. Look the the Jets, they had playoff team talent but no QB. Fields may turn out to be another Trubisky, all the talent in the world but inaccurate and doesn’t know what to do with the ball in 2.5 seconds.
Mahomes went 10; Lamar Jackson went 32; Jalen Hurts went in the 2nd round; Josh Allen went 7. Burrow is the only guy who went #1 who has changed a franchise, and even with him, they drafted everything else first. How would he have looked had he not had three starting receivers and a very good defense when he stepped into the league? What Detroit has done is what the Bears need to follow suit on. Trade down one pick and get more starters for your team. I guarantee you that Washington will be in the exact same place a year from now pinning their hopes on Williams saving their franchise with the same terrible defense and offensive line returning.
Fortunately that won’t happen. Poles doesn’t want to get fired, so Fields will be traded by the March 13th free agency period!!
Poles & Warren recognize Fields’ high character and physical giftedness, as well as the Bears’ organizational negligence & shortchanging of giving Fields a legitimate chance to succeed. I would be surprised if they don’t either keep him for a 4th year & trade for picks, or trade Fields specifically to PIT, where he’d have the best chance of success, then trade down to #2 and select Maye.
I really think the Bears’ brass will pass on Caleb Williams.
I’m sure the Bears are totally devastated when someone stops following them on social media sites…lol.
I still can’t fathom any team giving up anything of real value for a guy who really hasn’t progressed as a passer even with better weapons. Like if my team gave up a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him I’d be calling for the GM’s head.
If the Falcons and Steelers ” go a different way”, it will be difficult to do better than a third rounder. Every team in the NFL, knows that Fields will not be on the Bears roster in training camp. Poles has no leverage, unless there are two teams that are legitimately interested in trading for Fields. It will all play out in the next two to three weeks!!
I think it would end up being a HUGE mistake to trade Fields for an unproven QB prospect.
You look through the history of “Generational QB” talents that came out of college in the last 30 years and ended up superstars. VERY FEW!!!
You can count them on one hand.
Last night, I watched a podcast and they were discussing how many Bear WR’s had TD catches last year not named DJ Moore. ONLY 2, Mooney and Claypool from weeks 1 and 2.
We desperately NEED more targets than just Moore and Kmet. With Harrison in the fold, that would be nightmare matchups for other teams that have 3 very dangerous weapons that can catch a football.
Trade the #1 pick to drop a slot or 2 lower.
Then draft Harrison, Verse a DE from Florida State, gain a #2 pick, draft either a C, S, OL or another WR if chosen.
I would prefer to draft a C in the second round.
Maybe with some luck, we’ll get another team 1st round pick next year and within NE or Washington. The odds are they will still be bad next year. THEN draft a QB like Ewers or others if needed.
I would rather build a super team FIRST with a competent OC who can move the chains.
We all know how horrible Getsy was.
Instead of using the #1 pick on a QB that’s not in dire need or a Superteam. I’ll take the Superteam any day.
That my friends is how you build Championship caliber teams.
Not one QB, but a team of studs in every position.
We aren’t far from that now.
Just a few holes to fill.
And how many QBs after three seasons suddenly become a QB they’ve never been before and go the SB? Yeah, the trade bonanza sounds nice but it doesn’t include the piece they’ve been needing for decades. A next level QB. They still don’t have one.
The guy who most closely resembles JF1’s playing style and skillset: Josh Allen. He obviously hasn’t gone to the SB yet but his career arc changed dramatically as the team/weapons/coaching improved around him.
Josh Allen is head and shoulders above Fields and his big jump came in year three.
Fields is younger right now than Allen was when he made his Year 3 jump. Fields also missed the juicy part of the Bears schedule last season with LV/LAC/NO/CAR. The Bears have had massive coaching turnover and zero quality WRs during his tenure outside of DJM, who just so happened to put up career-best numbers last season.
The “Fields has never been an accomplished passer” trope is always humorous to me considering he finished his college career with 67 TDs and 9 INTs while twice leading his team to the CFP. Watch the games man. I don’t wanna hear about his INT numbers when he threw 22% of his season total on hail mary plays at the end of each half in one game (the first of which an obvious late hit wasn’t flagged and the second of which wasn’t even caught). This kid is a star. It’s just a matter of whether the Bears are patient enough to realize it. Teams win, not QBs. They have a chance to build a great team with the draft capital they would receive from trading back.
That being said, Caleb has rare tools and is a fantastic QB prospect. I heard one talent evaluator say he was the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck, and that is certainly hard to pass up, considering all the championships that guy won. (A gentle reminder that Luck was 4-4 in his 8 playoff games, finishing with 12 TDs and 13 INTs.)
Steve Young, Jeff Hostetler and Len Dawson were all late bloomers that won SBs. Rich Gannon, Matt Schaub and Tony Romo were all late bloomers that did well statistically, Rondon. There are others. It isn’t an extensive list, but neither is the list of “generational” QBs that lived up to the billing.
If the Bears go QB in the draft, they’re making a mistake. I think KylnJeff has it right. We’ll see what they do, but I don’t think Williams has the maturity or mental toughness to be a pro QB. I’d much rather have Fields and a bounty of picks to put talent around him.
ALL of them were accomplished passers- which you’re conveniently not mentioning. Fields isn’t- and won’t be. Hanging onto a QB with the 2nd worst 4th QTR QBR- in his third year- is nuts.
Are you sure on that? Even throwing out the years that some of them spent starting as backups, only Len Dawson threw more than 20 TD passes prior to his 4th season.
I’m not saying Fields is an upper echelon QB, but he isn’t terrible either. Sometimes you need to find a way to win with a mid tier QB, because not every team gets an elite level QB. The more you chase one, the more opportunities you’re wasting to build a complete team around the position.
Does he need to be though? Take a look around the NFC. The best QBs are Perdy who plays on a super team himself, Goff who plays on a burgeoning super team himself, Dak Prescott who plays on a super team himself, Jalen Hurts who played on a borderline super team himself, and old man Matthew Stafford. Maybe Jordan Love. Maybe Kyler Murray. You scared of any of those guys outdueling your QB? You’re talking like the NFC is stacked with QB talent. Bottom line is that he wasn’t the reason for the majority of their losses, and they need a lot more talent to compete. That was an8-9 team tops roster wise, and they finished 7-10.
Josh Allen. Drew Brees. Tua. Alex Smith. There are actually quite a few. Poles tore the roster down to the studs on offense. What were you expecting the last two years? They went into 2022 with one of the worst offensive lines in the league, so again, what were you expecting?
Worst OL line or a QB that didn’t know what to do with the ball and took too many sacks?
This may shock you, man, but if you look at the All-22, No. 1 WR Dante Pettis wasn’t getting open much at the end of the 2022 season. Fields finally was given a legitimate NFL-caliber WR and that guy put up a career year in 2023 despite a huge dip in production against a soft schedule when Bagent filled in because of injury. Probably just a coincidence, tho.
Teams win, not QBs.
Ask the Jets about teams winning. I saw Fields confused and not sure what to do with the ball over and over again. Maybe he works out, or maybe he doesn’t like Trubisky.
But the coaches and GM see Fields everyday in practice. They should know by now.
Ask Pat Mahomes about teams winning. He’s the absolute no-doubt best QB in the league and his team just won the SB despite going a full 60 minutes in game time between scores (both FGs) in the playoffs. He went 85+ minutes without a TD, which was gifted to him by a muffed punt. And after witnessing that, the narrative that developed by the fans and media (but crucially not Mahomes himself) was that the QB single-handedly willed his team to win. Meanwhile the KC defense that held the Dolphins, Bills, Ravens and 49ers to ~16 PPG disappears into the ether forever.
Teams win, not QBs.
It is mind boggling that some of these young Bears fans can’t see that!! How could you have watched Fields play for three years, and want him back, when both Williams and Maye are available? Fortunately, Poles doesn’t want to get fired, and will choose between Williams and Maye!!
They also have another first round pick and a lot of recent young additions. Plus they’ll get picks for trading Fields.
Yes
I think you can get a 1st for fields or a 2nd and 3rd. With the state of QB last year, patriots, raiders, broncos, titans, commanders, Seahawks, falcons all could use fields. I like the thought of trading 1st overall pick and fields and drafting Drake Maye and give a qb a chance at success. Or sign Kirk cousins call it a day with a vet and surround him with so much help.
Never…never going to get a 1st or even a 2nd for Fields….and probably not a 3rd either….do you think the other teams you have mentioned are asleep and have not seen him play…..or how he runs the team on the field….while they may be able to trade Fields and then pick the QB of the future, my opinion is that Fields won’t return anything close to what you mentioned…..
Thankfully those that actually get paid for their opinion strongly disagree with you. The floor is a 2nd rd pick IF they decide to move him and reset with Williams.
There was a rumor from Schefter or rapapporgt they could get a first. A late first
Oh yeh, a Schefter rumor….just like all the mock draft experts who try and convince us that they guarantee teams picks certain guys and undoubtedly are wrong most of the time……teams hoard draft picks and don’t give up anything early very easily…..and the Bears have no leverage in negotiations if they are actually going to draft Williams which is pretty sure at this point…..
Wow, thanks for that expert reply….didn’t know that the “floor was a 2nd round pick”….did that come up on your 8 Ball when you flipped it over?
Darnold got a 2nd and a 4th. I’m guessing Fields draws something like that.
Fields is much different then Darnold
Yes, the difference is that Darnold was a pocket passer primarily, and Fields is another of the “dual threat” guys who when they can’t run, can’t really throw either……and his in game decisions as well as his football awareness seems to be of great question…..doesn’t elevate the play of his teammates either……his stats tell you who he is…..and he’s going to cost a lot of money in a year…..criticize the Giants for the Jones signing, but they had the same crummy decision to make and had to bite the bullet and sign him to a ridiculous contract that they’ll have to wiggle out of next season….
Yeah, he doesn’t completely suck.
So, Darnold actually cost a 6th rounder in 22 his trade year, and a 2nd and 4th in future years….aren’t we talking about immediate trade return…if its future picks, lots more interesting and anything is possible….but nobody is going to trade a 1st, 2nd or 3rd round pick this year for sure……
Lol not even a third? Who do you think fields is ? You act like the guy has been trash.
Not trash, but do you really think another team is going to pay dearly (and teams seems to take their draft picks very seriously) for a castoff that the Bears may be desperate to rid themselves of…….its called leverage and the Bears don’t have it.
Best they can get is a 2nd if there’s competition for him. At least they’ll get a 3rd. Some team like Pittsburgh will step up.
I wouldn’t give up more than a 3rd for Fields. He’s got talent though, he’s going to need a good coach and solid team around him to fix all the bad habits he’s picked up over the last few years.
If they think Pickett is the guys SO BE IT…make him EARN it.
If they’re right, he will.
Handing him the job is the worst idea.
He did so many #1 Cochran commercials he forgot how to hit wide open receivers.
Dump Fields and move on with number one pick, I wouldn’t waste a year with top draft capital and spin my wheels with him again, in today’s NFL, it’s sink or swim…..bad side of it is, I don’t think anyone but the Raiders or Steelers want him but they don’t want to overpay, they know they’ll still suck with him at the helm
2024 3rd round and a 2025 3rd rounder that could move to a 2nd or Fields & 2025 2nd for a 2024 1st
The fact that the jets drafted 2 QB’s in the top 5 in the last 5 years and couldn’t develop them is a complete joke lol
They have to trade fields but I might wait until closer to the draft and possible trade down a 07spot or two, maybe even one at a time so I could still target a top 5 player.
Fields to the Steelers for DJ and the TE with the funky name.
Than Daniels.