NFL Coach Bodyslammed The Justin Fields Trade Talk In One Sentence
Multiple former general managers and other NFL people have said the Chicago Bears should seriously consider trading Justin Fields. They have the #1 pick, allowing them to take any QB in the draft they prefer. Fields’ trade value is still high, with two years left on his rookie deal and the improvements he showed in 2022. The QB himself stated he feels he’s done enough to earn another year with the team but admitted he has no control over what GM Ryan Poles plans to do. That uncertainty is why the speculation continues.
ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler decided to ask around the league about this situation. From what he gathers, Poles is standing by his word. He will evaluate the quarterbacks in this draft class as he would every year. That is his responsibility. It doesn’t automatically mean anything will happen.
As debate rages on what the Chicago Bears do with the No. 1 pick, this quote from an NFL coach stuck with me, and speaks to Justin Fields’ upside: “[The Bears] had no business being in some of the games they were in this year — that was because of Fields.” The great quarterbacks can overcome roster deficiencies. Fields seems to have that element, even if he needs more polish as a pocket passer.
This is something easy to forget. The Bears played six games during a stretch from November 6th through December 18th. Four were by five points or less to the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Philadelphia Eagles. Three teams finished with winning records, two made the playoffs, and one is in the Super Bowl. The Bears averaged 27.5 points scored in those games, and it was almost exclusively because of Fields.
Justin Fields deserves more time.
He didn’t exactly have the ideal situation around him for quarterback development. The regime that drafted him in 2021 was fired after one season. He had to switch offensive schemes going into Year 2 and had a supporting cast lacking any sort of star power. The offensive line was makeshift all season due to injuries. Darnell Mooney failed to play the entire season. Despite everything, Fields almost broke the single-season rushing record for a quarterback and improved his passer rating from his rookie season.
Don’t forget the two games this team played without Justin Fields were losses by a combined total of 60-23. The guy did everything he could to make the Bears competitive. Their record doesn’t tell the story of how close they were in so many of those games. It isn’t crazy to think this team can make a quick turnaround in 2023 if they sufficiently upgrade the roster. So unless one of these draft quarterbacks makes an all-time great impression on Poles and Matt Eberflus, this idea of trading Fields should be buried.