The Chicago Bears have won three of their last four games to reach 5-8, already a better record than last season’s 3-14. Hopes are high that they can improve on it even further with some victories over the final four weeks. There is an outside shot they could make the playoffs, but the truth is the team is hoping to build momentum for next year. More than that, several key figures are fighting for their jobs. The two most prominent are head coach Matt Eberflus and quarterback Justin Fields.
Both looked like dead men walking through September and much of October. The collapse in Detroit felt like the final nail in the coffin. However, two victories since have settled the waters. It has started speculation about whether the Bears will keep the status quo in 2024, bringing both back and continuing to build the roster with more pieces elsewhere. Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports spoke with several NFL general managers about the Fields situation and whether the Bears would pass on USC star Caleb Williams, presuming they secure the #1 pick.
It was here one of the GMs let slip an interesting nugget of information.
“IT WOULD BE A CLEAR-CUT DECISION TO DRAFT CALEB FOR ME,” AN AFC GENERAL MANAGER SAID. “THE FACT THAT WE’RE IN YEAR 3 AND [THEY] DON’T WANT TO EXERCISE THE FIFTH-YEAR OPTION TELLS ME WHAT I NEED TO KNOW. I JUST DON’T THINK FIELDS CAN WIN CONSISTENTLY AS A PASSER, EVEN THOUGH HE IS GIFTED PHYSICALLY.”
Justin Fields’ fate might already be decided.
The indication Chicago isn’t keen on utilizing the 5th-year option on Fields is telling. It suggests Ryan Poles may have already made a decision at quarterback and is letting the season play out. That general manager wasn’t alone in his assessment either. Every other one Robinson talked to agreed that going with Williams was the obvious choice. Their reasons weren’t all the same, either.
One felt it was a great way to reset the QB contract and keep stacking the roster.
Another felt Poles couldn’t risk passing on Williams after passing on C.J. Stroud, who looks like a budding star.
A third stated that it comes down to Justin Fields not being his choice. No GM wants to potentially get fired for failing to develop another guy’s draft picks.
All great points. Ultimately, it comes down to a simple question. Do the Bears believe Fields is capable of becoming a good enough passer to win them a Super Bowl? His numbers to this point are okay, but not what anybody would consider upper echelon, with 201 yards per game, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He still fumbles the ball too much and takes way too many sacks. Perhaps his otherworldly athleticism makes up for a lot of that, but not enough to justify passing on another potential quarterback with the #1 pick. At least not in the eyes of top NFL decision-makers.
