The closer free agency comes for the Chicago Bears, one thing has become impossible to ignore. Justin Fields’ trade market hasn’t materialized. Once it became clear the team planned to move on, expectations were they would be able to off-load him for a solid Day 2 pick. However, the NFL is always unpredictable. It seems circumstances have conspired against the Bears this time. No less than three notable veteran quarterbacks are on track to become free agents: Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, and Russell Wilson. All are viewed as better options than Fields based on recent updates.
That is a sobering reality many Bears fans were ready to hear. It might be the first real evidence that their perception of Fields and the NFL’s are nowhere close to the same. While nobody debates the young man is an elite athlete and strong teammate, the bottom line remains inescapable. He is a below-average quarterback. Over the past two seasons (28 games), he has completed 60.9% of his passes for 4,804 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. He also has 26 fumbles.
For all his athletic brilliance, Fields can’t excel where it matters most.
The Bears are left with two options on Justin Fields.
One is they take the best offer they can get, which likely may not exceed a 4th round pick at this rate. Much will be determined by where Cousins, Wilson, and Mayfield end up. Or they can take a calculated risk by keeping Fields as a backup with the expectation his market might grow if another quarterback gets injured. Given what happened last season with the array of injuries across the league, the latter feels like the wiser option. It may not help the Bears’ draft plans this year, but it could benefit them down the line.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
If nothing else, this is a harsh dose of reality for Justin Fields fans. They’ve been convinced that everything wrong with his Bears tenure was due to organizational mismanagement. Coaching turmoil, a subpar supporting cast, and inconsistent vision. While some of that is true, the fact is good quarterbacks still find ways to produce through the air, even when things are tough. Fields hasn’t done that unless things are perfect. The fact Luke Getsy got hired immediately as an offensive coordinator after leaving Chicago might’ve been the first sign the league felt he wasn’t the real problem.
This doesn’t shine the best light on former GM Ryan Pace.
