A yr in the past on the NFL Scouting Mix, Chicago Bears normal supervisor Ryan Poles introduced that his staff was open for enterprise — the primary choose within the 2023 draft was out there.
“We’d like rather a lot, and that (first choose) offers us extra alternative to herald extra gamers,” Poles stated then. “It’s a great state of affairs to be in for the place our membership is.”
The mix then grew to become an information-gathering mission for Poles and the Bears. They wanted to do their due diligence on the quarterback class, which included interviews with Bryce Younger, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.
However Poles additionally wanted to go away Indianapolis with an correct gauge of the commerce marketplace for the primary choose — and he obtained it. A couple of days after the mix concluded, the Bears traded the primary choose to the Carolina Panthers.
The targets for Poles at this yr’s mix must be related. The Bears will meet with one of the best quarterbacks: USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and probably others.
After which Poles additionally could have commerce markets to really feel out via his conversations with different GMs. Just like final yr, one market may very well be for the primary choose. One other may very well be for present starter Justin Fields.
For Poles and the Bears, what’s the better threat? Is it sticking with a quarterback who has the idea of his teammates however nonetheless ranks within the backside third within the league in lots of statistical areas? Or is it passing on one of the best QBs within the draft for the second yr in a row?
Which groups may very well be taken with Fields?
Based on NFL.com, 66 quarterbacks began for groups through the 2023 season. That’s rather a lot. However two extra began for groups through the 2022 season. That’s wild.
Groups are all the time searching for quarterbacks — and a few gained’t have the ability to discover solutions in free company or within the draft. In contrast to different groups, the Bears have certainty with the primary choose.
There have been 12 quarterbacks included in Randy Mueller’s rankings of the highest 150 free brokers for The Athletic. Solely two of them — the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield — made the highest 20. San Francisco 49ers backup Sam Darnold was subsequent at No. 98.
The commerce market comes subsequent. Groups will search certainty at an important place in sports activities heading into the draft. There may very well be a aggressive marketplace for Fields.
With the assistance of The Athletic’s beat writers, listed below are 5 potential commerce companions to contemplate because the NFL world descends on Indianapolis subsequent week.
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Atlanta Falcons
New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson didn’t give away a lot when speaking about what the staff desires in its subsequent quarterback.
“Whether or not it’s a pocket man, whether or not it’s a man who can transfer round just a little bit, we’re simply going to be searching for one of the best man,” Robinson stated.
Nonetheless, the actual fact Robinson has spent his complete profession underneath Rams coach Sean McVay in Los Angeles suggests he’s searching for a Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford kind. Fields’ huge arm will attraction to Robinson, although. Robinson stated the very first thing he appears to be like for is “how any person throws the soccer and what that appears like.”
Whether or not the Falcons pursue Fields might merely come right down to choices. They don’t have a transparent path to their subsequent quarterback contemplating they choose eighth within the first spherical, and Atlanta isn’t one of many league’s high free-agency locations. — Josh Kendall
The Broncos witnessed the complete Justin Fields expertise at Soldier Discipline in October as he put up huge numbers however made a few important errors late. (Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton noticed Fields at his greatest when the Broncos visited the Bears in Week 4 final season. Fields accomplished 28 of 35 passes for 335 yards and a career-high 4 touchdowns (a complete he would match the subsequent week). However in a slender Bears loss, Fields additionally misplaced a fumble that was returned for a Broncos landing and threw an interception on Chicago’s closing drive, sealing the defeat.
After voicing frustration with Russell Wilson’s incapability to guard the soccer throughout key stretches final season, I don’t see the Broncos giving up vital draft capital for a quarterback in Fields who, whereas youthful and extra athletic than Wilson, hasn’t been in a position to absolutely handle his ball-security points.
If the Broncos are going to maneuver draft capital in a deal to amass a quarterback, it’s extra more likely to be a transfer for a rookie Payton can mildew in his offense, even when which means the participant has to sit down for a season behind Jarrett Stidham. — Nick Kosmider
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Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are impossible to pursue Fields as a result of they employed the offensive coordinator who was fired after working with him in Chicago final season.
Luke Getsy was chosen by the Raiders due to his work as passing sport coordinator with the Packers and his run-game ideas with the Bears, because the Raiders determined the largest drawback with the Bears offense the final two seasons was the quarterback and never the offensive coordinator. Getsy additionally labored with Raiders receiver Davante Adams in Inexperienced Bay. — Vic Tafur
New England Patriots
The Patriots are exploring all choices for upgrading their quarterback state of affairs, even when the almost definitely avenue means utilizing the No. 3 choose on the place. However they may very well be tempted to draft Marvin Harrison Jr., arguably one of the best broad receiver prospect of the final decade. So maybe there’s an argument for buying and selling for Fields and utilizing that high choose on Harrison, instantly upgrading each quarterback and broad receiver — arguably the 2 largest weaknesses on the roster.
Even when it appears the Pats usually tend to pursue a quarterback with their third choose, if these to-be picks (doubtless Maye and Daniels) underwhelm in interviews on the mix, maybe the Patriots would contemplate parting with their third-round choose (No. 68) for Fields. — Chad Graff
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Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have two paths they’ll take at quarterback: Hope new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can unlock one thing in Kenny Pickett the NFL hasn’t seen or search for an improve elsewhere.
Whereas the Rooney household is thought for taking a affected person strategy, normal supervisor Omar Khan has carried out enterprise with the Bears earlier than, and Fields could be the most sensible of the surface choices. Fields’ mobility would add one other wrinkle to the run-heavy scheme Smith is more likely to set up, and the previous Buckeye’s huge arm would showcase the ability set of underutilized deep risk George Pickens. The quarterback would even be backed by what’s projected to be the NFL’s highest-paid protection, so he wouldn’t be requested to be a completed product instantly.
However what’s the worth? In the event you’re giving up one thing to get him, it’s most likely prudent to double down by choosing up the estimated $23.3 million fifth-year choice in Might. Past that, and perhaps most importantly, the Steelers must be able to punt on Pickett. That’s a giant guess for a quarterback the Bears aren’t bought on simply three years after giving up 4 picks to get him. — Mike DeFabo
How would a commerce play out?
Final yr, the New York Jets went all in. They traded for Aaron Rodgers.
In 2022, the Broncos pushed in all their chips. They acquired Russell Wilson.
A staff that’s taken with Fields after which acquires him in a commerce with the Bears wouldn’t be doing the identical. It may very well be hedging its bets on the place, not solely betting on Fields.
Fields’ state of affairs additionally appears to be like completely different from the Panthers’ determined determination to amass Darnold from the Jets in 2021 for a sixth-round choose in that draft and second- and fourth-rounders in 2022. The Panthers then assured his fifth-year choice.
These three trades, although, occurred earlier than the draft. That’s vital. Some QB-needy groups will search readability earlier than the unpredictability of the draft. Different groups could be extra compelled to attend till the draft.
Poles’ plan must be versatile, however solely to a sure level. The Bears have complimented Fields because the season ended. Poles, coach Matt Eberflus and president/CEO Kevin Warren have all carried out it. However that may very well be considered as an try to create leverage in commerce conversations that may very well be coming their approach in Indianapolis.
For all of his bodily items and glimpses of potential stardom, Fields’ numbers let you know to not choose up his fifth-year choice for the 2025 season.
Amongst certified QBs, Fields completed the 2023 season twenty ninth in completion share, twenty third in passing yards per sport, twenty second in passer ranking, twenty fourth in QBR, twenty sixth in adjusted web yards per try, thirty first in sack share and twenty second in interception charge (based on Professional Soccer Reference). His numbers on third downs, within the fourth quarter and in late-game conditions don’t encourage a lot confidence, both.
As all the time, extra context is required. The Bears, as a corporation, must be blamed for his failures as a lot, if no more, than he’s. However the state of affairs is what it’s. The Bears constructed within the choice to pivot from Fields if wanted.
Fields, although, might nonetheless be the most suitable choice for different groups after free company and earlier than the draft. The distinction between the Bears and people groups is that they’ve the primary choose. The draft nonetheless begins with them.
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(Prime picture: Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
