The bar the top quarterback prospects must clear for the Chicago Bears to move on from Justin Fields
By Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears control the NFL’s offseason.
General manager Ryan Poles enters the offseason with well over $90 million in salary cap space and the No. 1 overall pick. He also has a young, dynamic quarterback in Justin Fields.
Fields did enough to cement himself as the probable franchise quarterback of the Chicago Bears. Poles even admitted that Fields is the future of the franchise and will be the starting quarterback in 2023.
On @WBBMNewsradio, Ryan Poles expressed pride for what Justin Fields did in a difficult season of transition with the Bears: "I’m proud of the kid and how he hung in there. Transition is tough. ... I’m really looking forward to him taking the next step next year."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) January 8, 2023
His actions also spoke louder than his words. After providing Fields without much help last offseason, Ryan Poles gave up the No. 32 pick in the draft before the trade deadline to get wide receiver Chase Claypool. While that trade is not aging well because Claypool struggled, it was a sign that Poles is ready to move forward with Justin Fields as his quarterback.
Poles believes when it comes to the draft, you draft the best player available. There is the potential that with the Chicago Bears scouts and Poles’ assessment, a quarterback could be the best player on the board.
If Ryan Poles preaches 'best player available' in the draft, he has to live by the rule.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) January 7, 2023
That means scrutinizing every position relentlessly - including quarterback.
Seems unlikely the #Bears would pick a QB, but they have to consider everything.https://t.co/Xw6VMmBNvT
A couple of draft boards have quarterbacks at the top of their boards. The point could become mute if Poles decides to trade back. If he stays with the top pick, Poles will have to at least look at the draft’s top quarterback prospects.
He would be doing the franchise a disservice. Also, Poles needs to show potential trade partners that he is willing to take a quarterback to make sure no one thinks he is bluffing.
Still, with the way Fields played, it will take a lot of courage and conviction to add another young quarterback to a roster littered with holes. Poles admitted he would have to be blown away by one of the young quarterbacks in the NFL Draft class.
#Bears GM Ryan Poles on possibly taking a QB at No. 1: "I'd have to be absolutely blown away to make that type of decision."
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 10, 2023
Poles said he's excited about the development they've seen from Justin Fields and had great conversations with him and he knows what he has to work on.
The consensus top three quarterbacks in this year’s draft do have the potential ability to blow Poles away. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, and Kentucky’s Will Levis are viewed very highly.
Florida’s Anthony Richardson is also considered a first-round prospect, but he is so raw that he is probably not ready to play on day one. Poles would make a huge mistake taking Richardson at the top of the draft.
Ryan Poles is going to do his due diligence. He will review the tape and attend the workouts. Poles should ask himself this question when it comes to feeling if he is truly feel blown away by these three prospects: Are any of these players going to be better on Week 1 in 2023 than Justin Fields?
Young, Stroud, or Levis, who have never taken an NFL snap, would have to already show they are better players than Fields is with two years and 25 starts in the pros. Remember, 10 of those starts came under former head coach Matt Nagy who was trying to shoehorn into his scheme.
While these three prospects have a lot of talent, it might be hard for them to clear that bar.