The Chicago Bears general manager and head coach spoke on Tuesday at the NFL Combine, talking about the team’s quarterback position as immense speculation continues to swirl about what they will do. There are two aspects to what Chicago will do from now until the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft and whether they will keep Justin Fields or draft a quarterback with their first of two first-round selections. Given what Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus said on Tuesday, it appears certain that the Bears will now trade Fields, which is the correct decision.
Poles and Eberflus’ Words Demonstrate They Want A Change At The Quarterback Position
The most significant takeaway from Poles’ press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine was how he viewed the types of quarterbacks, as they are either artists or surgeons. The analogy seems to split the difference between signals-callers known for creating highlight plays and ones known for continually dissecting opposing defenses and finding open targets. Unfortunately for Fields, he has been seen as one of the most exciting players in the NFL over the past two seasons, but has struggled to consistently take apart opposing defenses as a passer.
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Fields has been a terrific playmaker at times due to his elite mobility and arm strength but has yet to master the ability to throw with anticipation and touch, a requirement for elite-level quarterbacks. Chicago’s third-year signal-caller has had more games in which he has thrown for less than 150 yards than games where he passed for 250 yards or more. Over the past two seasons, Fields has only thrown multiple touchdown passes in seven of his 28 starts.
Eberflus’ comments seem to be directed at one of Fields’ most significant weaknesses, which has been a desire for a quarterback who plays well in the fourth quarter of games. Chicago’s quarterback has thrown over 16 interceptions in the final quarter of games during his career and has compiled a 55.9 completion percentage. Several of Fields’ interceptions thrown in the fourth quarterback have been returned for touchdowns, which have directedly influenced the outcomes of games, including a loss to Detroit in 2022 and a loss to Denver this year.
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Fields has also struggled mightily during the final possession of one-score games in situations where he can lead the Bears’ offense on game-tying or game-winning scoring drives. Since 2022, the Bears have had ten games in which they had a chance to tie or win on their final offensive possession of the game, nine of which they have lost. Fields has failed to lead Chicago’s offense on any scoring drives at the end of those contests, except for the team’s Week 12 Monday Night win over the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 12-10.
Poles and Eberflus are being honest about what they are looking for in a quarterback for the Bears. If the front office and head coach were keen on keeping their current starting quarterback, they would not voiced their desired traits for a signal-caller, knowing that these traits are the same traits their quarterback has struggled with. Chicago’s head coach and general manager appear ready to move on for Fields to the point that they discussed his weaknesses, something they don’t want their next quarterback to struggle with.
Keeping Fields Would Be Costlier If Kept Compared If He Were Traded
Given the comments made by both Eberflus and Poles, it appears likely that Fields will be traded to another team over the next few weeks. A potential trade could give Chicago either one or multiple high-round draft selections. If the Bears get either a first-round pick or multiple second-rounders for Fields, this would give the front office extensive flexibility over the first two nights of the draft.
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Although keeping Fields would enable the franchise to trade the first overall selection in return for multiple future first-round picks, it could potentially cost Chicago if Fields does not improve his play. If the third-year quarterback doesn’t take the next step to become an elite passer, even with an improved supporting cast, it could force the Bears to potentially trade their first-round picks to move up in a future draft to take a quarterback prospect. Trading Fields and taking a collegiate signal-caller in the first round of this year’s draft gives Chicago the best and most immediate chance at improving their roster.
If Poles and Eberflus chose to keep Fields, it could put both their jobs in jeopardy if their quarterback struggles in 2024. A rookie signal-caller provides the Bears’ front office and coaching staff flexibility as if there is immediate success by a first-rounder, the team will be a likely playoff contender for years to come. If Fields struggles, fans and analysts will ask why Poles and Eberflus passed on several prospects in back-to-back drafts despite holding the first overall selection each time.
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A Fields trade could come as soon as the next few days as all NFL teams are meeting and doing their homework on hundreds of prospects, including several quarterbacks expected to be drafted in the first round. Poles and Eberflus appeared confident in which way they are ready to go with their comments made on Tuesday as they highlighted specific traits they desired. It is those traits that they have not seen from Fields over the past two years.
It is clearly because Fields doesn’t want to be great.
History and circumstances point to Fields reaching his ceiling with another team. Plunkett, Farve, Geno Smith, Stafford, and Brees are examples. There are, no doubt, others too that found success after going to another team. So if Poles wants his reset at QB, he better be sure the rookie he brings in is capable of handling the NFL speed and talent at that level. CW played in a conference that did not have an affinity for stout defenses. and when he did face one, that is where the red flags arise. His off script abilities is where his reputation was… Read more »
How would the writer know this? The Bears got rid of an obvious problem. The lack of experience, creativity, scheme, and play calling was apparent to anyone who watched the Bears games. The trade Fields crowd, while making astute observations, use such a narrow, shallow, subjective reasoning. Fields has improved year over year, and is still ascending. The flashes show he has the talent. It’s the consistency they’re upset with, disregarding all of the mitigating circumstances for much of Fields results. Moving Fields, who is indeed a starting quality QB, is the option being pushed by some. Others advocate keeping… Read more »
Just to add on, Roquan/TGena didn’t have an agent either, and he held out due to offset language regarding guaranteed pay if he was suspended by the league for a hit, IIRC. It’s really nothing new.
The most eye opening, eye watering, stat in this article is that Fields has had more games under 150 yards than over 250 yards. That is alarming in an NFL predicated on passing and where the rules are set up for passing success!