ESPN NFL expert cautions Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields’ comparison

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is going to be the 2023-2024 NFL MVP. That has been the sentiment that Bears fans have had since the end of the 2022-2023 NFL season and there may be a need to pump the brakes on those expectations.

Fields did take a step forward during his first full season as the Bears’ starting quarterback but there was still tremendous work ahead of him before he first is to be considered the long-term answer for the team at the quarterback position and, secondly, considered to be a legitimate candidate to win the NFL MVP this season.

Bears fans are expecting Fields to be the 2023-2024 version of quarterback Jalen Hurts was for the Philadelphia Eagles last season and let’s at least get through the team’s Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers before we justify that comparison. ESPN NFL expert Damien Woody agrees with that idea.

"“I get why people would make the comparison,” Woody said on ESPN. “You talk about two guys who are very athletic and can hurt you both with their arm and their legs. I know people are talking about ‘Can Justin Fields make the Jalen Hurts type of leap?’ I’d tap the brakes on that because I think the infrastructure in Philadelphia is much, much better than what’s going on in Chicago.“I know Chicago’s made a lot of progress . . . But I just look at Philadelphia, man, you’re talking about an offense that’s just humming across the board.”-NBC Sports Chicago"

Woody is not wrong with his stance either.

The Bears’ offense is still far inferior to what the Eagles have. That is not to say that the Bears offense won’t take a step forward this season but there are fair questions surrounding the Bears’ wide receiver depth after D.J. Moore.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is not on the same level as Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The status of wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool should not be overlooked. It is uncertain what type of receive Mooney will be this season after suffering a foot injury that required surgery. Mooney’s footwork and ability to run routes efficiently is what contributed toward his ascension to the top of the Bears’ depth chart at the wide receiver position. If Mooney lacks that ability post-surgery, that will be a major setback for the Bears’ wide receivers this season.

Ditto for Claypool as head coach Matt Eberflus revealed that the wide receiver was dealing with multiple injuries that held him out of a large portion of the team’s mini-camp practices this Spring.

Looking beyond the wide receivers, the Eagles had the best offensive line in all of football last season. The Bears’ offensive line was among the worst. Rookie offensive tackle Darnell Wright should improve an offensive line that will have its starters in place before Training Camp but a jump to being one of the best groups in the NFL should not be expected.

In terms of individual quarterback mechanics, it is fair to think that Fields can take a similar step forward this season that Hurts took last season. That improvement may not be seen in his statistics, however, as the Bears offense is still littered with unknowns.