NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Chicago Bears are sitting with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. For most teams, that means QB time. But for the Bears, that means a few different possibilities. With Justin Fields supposedly their leader heading into next season, the Bears are not in search of a new signal caller, just yet. But what happens next season if Fields doesn’t show any improvement?
Last season, the Bears finished with a record of 3-14 in which Fields went 3-12 as a starter. While that was alarming in itself, the prior season, Fields went 2-8 as a starter for the 2021-22 season. To say that Fields is not an extraordinary athlete is the same as saying Ken Griffey Jr was not a home run hitter. Fields has passed for 4122 yards with 24 Touchdowns, and 21 interceptions with a completion percentage of 59.7 during his brief career. Those are the type of numbers where you’re either benched or traded. But for Fields and the Bears, he gets a pass.
While Fields does not have the weapons around him the same as Joe Burrow or Jalen Hurts, Fields has been more Lamar Jackson than Burrow. In his 27 career games, Fields has rushed the ball 232 times for 1563 yards and 10 TDs. He’s a threat with his legs but the Bears need him to be a dual threat.
Is Justin Fields The Right QB For The Chicago Bears
Fields has yet to throw a 300-yard passing game and has only had one game with more than 2 passing TDs. The front office of the Chicago Bears has not provided him with a stable of reliable receivers but neither has the Ravens where Jackson is concerned. Fields is on the hot seat as a QB no matter how good of a runner he is.
Heading into the 2023-24 NFL season, Justin Fields will need to show major improvement. With the No. 1 pick and no need for a QB, yet, the Bears will more than likely trade down and acquire picks, but will one of them be a QB in the later rounds?
With Hurts and Burrow leading their respective teams to the Super Bowl in consecutive years, the pressure is on Fields to perform next season more than ever. The Bears will need to decide if he’s their future or just a bridge to someone better. He can no longer just rely on his legs. While he’s a weapon, his legs alone are not winning games.
The Bears’ main focus this offseason should be getting Fields the weapons he needs on the outside. Last season, their leading receiver was TE Cole Kmet with 50 receptions for 544 yards and 7 TDs. Winning is what matters most in this league and the Bears must find a way to keep pace with the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions. Hell, even the Green Bay Packers with all their QB issues are not void of options at the QB position.
If Justin Fields fails to live up to expectations this season, the Chicago Bears will be equipped with another high draft pick and may look to grab Caleb Williams out of USC in the 2024 NFL Draft. The time is up to stop coddling Fields. He must show that he’s more than just a runner. He has to prove that he can be a true QB in this league.
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