Bears general manager may have to ditch Justin Fields to save his job
The Chicago Bears will have a major decision to make in the coming weeks as it pertains to the most important position in football. Simply put, the future of the Bears organization will be formed going into the 2024 season. No other executive in the NFL will have to make harder decisions over the next […]
The Chicago Bears will have a major decision to make in the coming weeks as it pertains to the most important position in football.
Simply put, the future of the Bears organization will be formed going into the 2024 season. No other executive in the NFL will have to make harder decisions over the next few months than Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
As it relates to the current situation with current starting quarterback Justin Fields, the decision has established itself into being an easy one of the team's top executive in order to save his position in the long-term future.
The Bears will have three games remaining during the 2023 season, starting on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, for Fields to continue making his case for being the team's franchise quarterback. So far, it's hard to say conclusively that he's done so.
Poles has already traded away one first overall pick earlier this year in favor of surrounding Fields with a new top target in wide receiver DJ Moore and a first round protection in right tackle Darnell Wright.
The result? The Bears are 5-8 on the season and Fields ranks in the bottom-10 in completion percentage (61.4), passing yards per game (197.6), passing touchdowns (14), and passer rating (85.6) among 30 qualified quarterbacks in 2023.
Does that type of production really inspire confidence in a front office executive who's job could soon be on the line? The answer is no and it's clear to see why Poles could lean toward trading Fields in the offseason as opposed to trading away a second consecutive first overall pick.
On top of that, Fields was never drafted by Poles in the first place. Fields was selected by former general manager Ryan Pace with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Poles commits to Fields for one more year in 2024, ships off the number one pick once again, and finishes with another disappointing season, it'll be his head next up on the chopping block.
But let's look at the alternative. If Poles trades away Fields for a considerable return from any of the potential suitors around the league after the season ends and drafts his preferred quarterback with the number one overall pick, he will be given more of a grace period to make it work.
The decision could not be more simple of one to make. It's either have full and complete trust in a player you didn't draft nor have proven to trust in what could possibly be your final year of your job or secure a longer form of job security with a player you personally hand pick to lead your franchise.
Fields will of course have three more games to change Poles' mind, but as of now, his decision should be made. The best course of action for Poles to create stronger job security with the Bears is by drafting either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft while continuing to build the team around whichever of the two top prospects he chooses.
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