A 12 months in the past on the NFL Scouting Mix, Chicago Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles introduced that his staff was open for enterprise — the primary choose within the 2023 draft was out there.
“We want quite a bit, and that (first choose) offers us extra alternative to usher in extra gamers,” Poles stated then. “It’s a superb scenario to be in for the place our membership is.”
The mix then turned 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 acquired it. A number of days after the mix concluded, the Bears traded the primary choose to the Carolina Panthers.
The objectives for Poles at this 12 months’s mix ought to be related. The Bears will meet with the very 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 may have commerce markets to really feel out by way of his conversations with different GMs. Much like final 12 months, one market could possibly be for the primary choose. One other could possibly 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 the very best QBs within the draft for the second 12 months in a row?
Which groups could possibly be excited about Fields?
In response to NFL.com, 66 quarterbacks began for groups through the 2023 season. That’s quite a bit. However two extra began for groups through the 2022 season. That’s wild.
Groups are all the time on the lookout for quarterbacks — and a few gained’t be capable of 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 could possibly be a aggressive marketplace for Fields.
With the assistance of The Athletic’s beat writers, listed here are 5 potential commerce companions to think about 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 on the lookout for the very best man,” Robinson stated.
Nevertheless, the very fact Robinson has spent his total profession below Rams coach Sean McVay in Los Angeles suggests he’s on the lookout for a Jared Goff-Matthew Stafford sort. Fields’ huge arm will attraction to Robinson, although. Robinson stated the very first thing he seems for is “how any person throws the soccer and what that appears like.”
Whether or not the Falcons pursue Fields could merely come all the way 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 total Justin Fields expertise at Soldier Discipline in October as he put up huge numbers however made a few essential 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 slim Bears loss, Fields additionally misplaced a fumble that was returned for a Broncos landing and threw an interception on Chicago’s remaining 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 totally handle his ball-security points.
If the Broncos are going to maneuver draft capital in a deal to accumulate 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 recreation coordinator with the Packers and his run-game ideas with the Bears, because the Raiders determined the largest downside 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 scenario, even when the probably avenue means utilizing the No. 3 choose on the place. However they could possibly be tempted to draft Marvin Harrison Jr., arguably the very 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 greatest 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 (seemingly Maye and Daniels) underwhelm in interviews on the mix, maybe the Patriots would take into account 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, common supervisor Omar Khan has finished enterprise with the Bears earlier than, and Fields will be the most lifelike of the skin 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 talent 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 value? For those who’re giving up one thing to get him, it’s in all probability prudent to double down by choosing up the estimated $23.3 million fifth-year possibility in Might. Past that, and possibly most importantly, the Steelers must be able to punt on Pickett. That’s an enormous wager 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 12 months, 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 excited about Fields after which acquires him in a commerce with the Bears wouldn’t be doing the identical. It could possibly be hedging its bets on the place, not solely betting on Fields.
Fields’ scenario additionally seems completely different from the Panthers’ determined choice to accumulate 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 possibility.
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 finished it. However that could possibly be considered as an try to create leverage in commerce conversations that could possibly be coming their manner in Indianapolis.
For all of his bodily presents and glimpses of potential stardom, Fields’ numbers let you know to not choose up his fifth-year possibility for the 2025 season.
Amongst certified QBs, Fields completed the 2023 season twenty ninth in completion proportion, twenty third in passing yards per recreation, twenty second in passer ranking, twenty fourth in QBR, twenty sixth in adjusted internet yards per try, thirty first in sack proportion 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, ought to be blamed for his failures as a lot, if no more, than he’s. However the scenario is what it’s. The Bears constructed within the choice to pivot from Fields if wanted.
Fields, although, might nonetheless be the best 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 photograph: Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)