If you're following the “Bears should keep Justin Fields” bandwagon, you might want to look away.
Recently, Yahoo! Sports interviewed seven anonymous general managers with one question in mind: Should the Bears keep Fields or trade him elsewhere?
The unanimous consensus was that the Bears should send Fields out of town.
“It would be a clear decision to sign Caleb for me,” an AFC general manager said in the report. “The fact that we're in third grade and [they] If I don't want to take up the fifth year option, I know what I need to know. I just don’t think Fields can consistently win as a passer, even though he’s physically gifted.”
“[Caleb Williams] I'm worried, but he's definitely talented,” an NFC general manager told Yahoo! Sports. “It just gives you more time and a much cheaper contract as you keep adding pieces to build the team.”
“When you pass on talented quarterbacks to help develop a player, which is what the Bears did when they traded the No. 1 pick last year, you have to be absolutely confident in that decision to do it a second time,” another AFC general manager said of the report. “… Fields can't get over the hump, you don't want to be the guy who let both Stroud and Caleb Williams down.”
Oof.
Now, before we dive into the pros and cons of moving on from Fields, one thing should be noted. These anonymous CEOs may be trying to control the narrative. Would these general managers all trade Fields if they were in Ryan Pole's shoes? Or do they want the Bears to trade fields and say anything publicly to make this happen? Food for thought.
Either way, one GM said it would be a cardinal sin to pass on Stroud and Williams, assuming the latter's potential in the NFL plays out as expected. Stroud appears to be a concrete cornerstone for the Texans, as he has even put himself in MVP conversations this season.
They also don't need to remind Bears fans how painful it is to miss a franchise quarterback. This happened back in 2017 when the Bears selected Mitch Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick and passed on future Hall of Famer Patrick Mahomes.
Another general manager pointed out that the Poles probably want to make their mark on a quarterback sooner rather than later. Remember, Ryan Pace, not Poles, traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft to acquire Fields with the No. 11 pick in the draft.
As far as this GM is concerned, you don't want to be the general manager who tried another general manager's quarterback and failed. You want to get your shot. With Fields still a question mark after three seasons, it could be up to the Poles to get in the driver's seat.
The general managers in the story also offered insight into the type of hypothetical trade package Fields could receive for his services, given their unanimous reactions to trade Fields.
Neither GM mentioned a first-round pick in the package. They all mentioned second round picks. In some cases, an additional third or fourth round pick was added.
There are some factors for the quality of the package that fields can also dominate in a trade. For example, its value could fluctuate depending on how long the bears wait to trade. Move him closer to the draft? Its stock could fall. Trade him tight after the season ends? The Bears could acquire a more valuable package.
Also keep in mind that Fields only has one year left on his rookie contract with an option for a fifth year as coach this offseason. Would a team be willing to take on this little remaining contract? Fields will command a larger number of players in his next contract. For him, it's probably related to trading. And that is a big commitment.
Fields has undoubtedly improved this season. He rushed for 1,800 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. His passing rate is currently at the highest level of his career. Quality-wise, his presence in the pocket has improved and his rushing abilities complement his passing game rather than the opposite.
Last season, the Bears chose to develop Fields over new additions. Their package from the Carolina Panthers offsets the opportunity cost of Stroud and Bryce Young. Will that be the case this offseason? It might be time to change course.
At least that's what seven general managers in the league say.
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