After the Chicago Bears traded the #1 pick to Carolina for D.J. Moore, the 9th pick, and three additional picks, it was a clear indication that GM Ryan Poles intended to ride with Justin Fields as his starting quarterback. Fans could finally stop hearing the incessant talk about the possibility the team might trade the former 1st round pick. It was hard to justify it. Sure, Fields’ passing wasn’t great in 2022, but he still managed to take big steps forward in his development despite a crummy supporting cast. That earned him another year to keep improving.
Or so we thought. Even now, some still believe there is an outside possibility the Bears will pivot away from him if the opportunity presents itself. Former scout and top draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah offered his take on the Move The Sticks podcast. He believes if one of the top QBs happens to slip to the 9th pick, say Florida’s Anthony Richardson, it might be in the Bears’ best interest to make a change.
Nothing about what the Bears have done to this point suggests Fields is going anywhere. They’ve focused on building up his supporting cast, and there isn’t a single rumor out there that they’re considering a quarterback. If they had any genuine interest in Richardson, they wouldn’t have moved down from #1.
Justin Fields has at least one more year. Accept it.
Yes, the entire idea of resetting the quarterback clock is a well-established narrative. The fact is the Bears have no reason to fear the contract deadline with Fields. This coming season will determine their ultimate decision. If he breaks out as hoped, paying him a big contract won’t be seen as a source of dread. It will be confirmation the Bears have a franchise quarterback. This narrative that teams can’t win a Super Bowl with a massive QB contract on their books is simply false. Patrick Mahomes carried a cap hit of $35.8 million last year. Tom Brady counted $28.375 million against Tampa Bay’s cap in 2020.
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There are always methods to get around big cap hits. If a team manages its money responsibly and drafts consistently well, it’s more than possible to compete for championships with a big QB contract. Justin Fields is a rare talent that has shown flashes of the ability to elevate people around him. You don’t let something like that go until you’re absolutely sure he can’t realize his full potential. The Bears aren’t drafting a quarterback this year. Let it go.
