Bears: Assessing the future of QB Justin Fields — should he stay or should he go?

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The 2024 QB Class Will Be Enticing For The Bears

Another factor working against Fields is how strong the quarterback class is — on paper, at least. Caleb Williams is talked about as a franchise cornerstone type of player. Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are not far behind on most Big Boards.

What the Bears must ask themselves is this: Can Justin Fields win a Super Bowl? If the answer is yes, then there’s no discussion to be had. Trade down from No. 1, add even better assets, and stack the roster around Fields. You don’t trade a quarterback you believe can win a championship, period.

It’s a gamble either way for the Bears. Fields may never reach his lofty ceiling, but the hit rate on quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, even in the first round, is not as sure-fire as you might expect. Rolling the dice resets the clock contractually, but if that player underachieves, the move ultimately doesn’t matter.

As for me, sticking with Justin Fields for another season, acquiring current (and future) draft capital, and going on a spending spree in free agency is the optimal approach for Chicago. They are a big market team that can attract free agents, and the roster is closer to contending than anyone cares to admit.

Whatever Chicago Decides, It Will Set The Course For The Franchise Going Forward

At the end of the day, the Fields decision will come down to who is calling the shots. If Poles retains the general manager role, expect Fields to stick around for a fourth season. If a new regime is brought in, then all cards are on the table. It’s anyone’s best guess which way it would go in that scenario.

But Fields, although imperfect, has shown capable of winning games. Get him an offensive-minded head coach — or a higher-upside coordinator — and that could make all the difference. Not to mention the potential additions to the offensive line and the wide receiver room this offseason.

Poles, Eberflus, and Fields all have varying degrees of heat under their seats. There’s a chance Poles is the only one to return for 2024; there’s a chance Fields is the only one. Eberflus, unfortunately, faces a difficult path toward maintaining his head coaching gig.

Either way, this coming offseason is the most pivotal in recent memory for the Bears. They must get this right.