The Chicago Bears want everybody guessing as to what they will do. The less people know about their intentions, the better. GM Ryan Poles has no reason to be clear about his plans. That would only make things easier on other teams. Nothing spurs rash decisions like the unknown. This is why the NFL draft rumors are already rampant. People are trying to figure out what the Bears will do with the #1 overall pick. Some think they’ll trade it. Others believe they’ll stay put and take the best defender on the board. Some even think Poles might pivot at quarterback, taking Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud and trading Justin Fields.
Anything is possible. Minds can change a lot in the space of almost three months. Players can sway teams with their interviews. Poles might get cold feet with an original decision and opt for a change. That is why this time of year is so unpredictable. Rich Eisen decided to seek some details on the matter. He spoke with national insider Albert Breer of the MMQB. Breer has proven sources where the Bears are concerned, so what he had to say was interesting. It seems two things are expected. Chicago will keep Fields at quarterback, and they will trade the #1 pick (or try to).
This lines up with the most logical Chicago Bears course.
It makes sense. Fields played well enough in 2022 to deserve another season as the starter. He was an elite threat as a runner and made progress as a passer despite a rough situation around him on the offensive line and at wide receiver. The Bears can use this off-season to bolster the offense and then go into 2023 with a chance at a far more fair evaluation of him. If he excels? Great. The Bears will know they have their guy. If not, they can start thinking about quarterback options in 2024 when the roster is in a far better place.
As for the #1 pick, that is hard to determine. The Chicago Bears are in a great spot. They have two quarterback-desperate teams behind them in Houston (#2) and Indianapolis (#4). Their being division rivals makes it even better. If one of the top 2023 quarterbacks makes the right impression on either of those front offices, then Poles should have no problem getting offers to move down. If he doesn’t, then he can take the player he thinks is the best in the entire draft. It’s a pretty sweet spot to be in.
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