Two games remain on the schedule. GM Ryan Poles would have you think the evaluation process is incomplete. However, anybody with common sense can safely assume the Chicago Bears GM has a pretty good idea of what he will do once the off-season begins next month. It starts with determining the fate of head coach Matt Eberflus. Recent reports and rumors suggest the man has a pretty good chance to return in 2024 thanks to the team’s reversal of fortunes, going from a 0-4 start to 6-9 with two games left. If so, the next decision for Poles is whether to keep Justin Fields.
The indications here are different. Multiple beat writers close to the team have hinted there is a strong possibility the Bears move on from the quarterback, hoping to start fresh at the position in the 2024 draft. Former GM Randy Mueller assessed the Bears’ situation in his latest column for The Athletic. He thinks the path forward is clear. First, keep Eberflus and his staff in place. Second, find the right QB in the draft. In his mind, there are three who fit what Chicago is looking for.
Two of the names are obvious. The other is a surprise.
“If I were Poles, I would keep the coach, keep the coordinator and let them have ample input on selecting one QB from what I see as a group of three top prospects: USC’s Caleb Williams, Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU and — if he elects to come out, and plays well in the College Football Playoff — Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, whose skill set might just fit best of all. The quality of this group puts the Bears in a rare position. All three would be upgrades over Fields, who could be traded for a few more draft choices.”
This idea makes sense for the Chicago Bears.
One thing Eberflus has mentioned he wanted from the quarterback position was consistency. Keep the turnovers down, move the chains, and sustain drives. Take your shots when they’re there. Fields is a tremendous athletic talent who can do things most QBs can’t, but his consistency remains problematic. He struggles to string completions together, holds the ball too long, and still has a fumbling issue. The positive plays become less worth it when there are almost as many negative ones.
J.J. McCarthy isn’t the talent Fields is, but he has built an unquestionable reputation as a winner and leader for Michigan. He’s thrown 31 touchdowns and only nine interceptions over the last two seasons, guiding his team to a 26-1 record with a shot at the national title once again. Some people have labeled him a game manager because the Wolverines don’t ask him to throw much, but many believe he has the tools to do so. His efficiency, poise, and big-game mentality are all qualities the Chicago Bears would like.
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Throw in the fact Brad Biggs mentioned his name out of nowhere a few weeks ago and it’s something to keep in mind.
