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Prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears will once again undergo a multi-faceted assessment of their quarterback, similar to the previous off-season.
The Bears currently hold the No. 1 overall pick by virtue of March’s trade with the Panthers. The decision to either move on from Justin Fields or potentially select a top passer will go a long way toward shaping the QB picture this offseason.
Fields is back in the starting lineup today against the Lions after missing the previous four games with a dislocated thumb. He was a full-go in practice this past week and has no injury designation.
“Throwing feels good and my arm feels rejuvenated,” Fields informed reporters on Wednesday. “Naturally, I’m very thrilled. The more time I spent out, the more eager I was to get back in the game.”
The future of Fields as the Bears’ QB will partially depend on the outcomes of the next seven games. The Bears’ possession of two first-round picks – one of their own and one from the Panthers – adds an extra layer of intrigue for Chicago.
The situation confronting the Bears is as follows:
Will the Bears choose Fields as their principal starter, opt for his fifth-year provision, and consider a lucrative contract extension that some former first-round starting quarterbacks receive with two years left on their contract? If they decide to do so, they would utilize the high draft picks to develop and support him.
Alternatively, could the Bears consider trading Fields to a team in need of a quarterback, and then opt to use one of their picks to choose a new, less expensive franchise quarterback? This would leave them with just one other first-round pick to support a rookie quarterback.
Fields was performing at his peak in football and exhibiting the qualities of a franchise QB before his injury.
Against the Broncos and Commanders, Fields’ passer rating was over 125, and he threw for over 280 yards with four touchdowns in each game. That was Fields at his best.
The Bears faced a similar scenario this past March and opted to trade the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers for multiple picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore, giving Fields at least one more year and giving themselves more resources to build their infrastructure with. Chicago needed to be blown away by a quarterback to select one in the 2023 draft and instead traded the pick.
Sources say it’s the same view heading into the 2024 draft. The Bears would need to be blown away by a rookie QB to move on from Fields three years after selecting him No. 11 overall in the 2021 draft.
What must Fields demonstrate to retain his position as Chicago’s QB1?
Insiders shared understanding about the decision, highlighting that the roster this year is more robust and advanced than the previous year’s. This means it offers a more equitable assessment of Fields.
The organization is looking to determine the following: Can this quarterback secure multiple championships? Can he consistently perform well, particularly during crucial moments such as red-zone and two-minute offense? Is he capable of executing effectively when the game is at stake? Can he prevent turnovers and maintain the momentum of the drives?
All typical methods organizations usually use to assess signal-callers.
There are moments in Fields’ career when it seemed like there were efforts to transform him into a more stationary passer. The aspiration for the future is that he plays his own style, running when needed and utilizing his agility to create opportunities. This is when Fields truly shines as a game-changer.
If Fields can flourish, it will simplify matters for the organization as they won’t have to start afresh with a new quarterback, but can instead focus on building a winning strategy around Fields. The upcoming games will be instrumental in deciding this.
This week, the question was posed to head coach Matt Eberflus regarding his observations of Fields at practice.
“The coach stated, “I believed he regained his footwork to the required level. His accuracy, I felt, was commendable and improved as the week progressed. I found his performance to be good.”
