By: Jake Rajala

The Chicago Bears 23-year-old quarterback Justin Fields is coming off a porous, tough rookie season in 2021 (7 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 12 fumbles, 58% completion percentage, and a 2-8 record). Fields has undeniable athletic ability and arm talent, but don’t let a few dazzling rushing highlights point away from the fact that Fields (and numerous other rookie QBs) had a tough beginning to their career. Fields isn’t in Matt Alcatraz Nagy Island in 2022, but the picture with Fields in the Allen Robinson-less NFC North is hard to diagnose.

There have been rumors of the Bears potentially trading away Fields. The first-year Bears head coach Matt Eberflus may pull the plug on the OSU QB experiment and choose a different route. With that enunciated, I’m going to outline the pros and cons of the Bears trading away Fields.

Cons of trading away Fields

• Potential star in the second year QB

Fields often struggled in his rookie season, but he may have a high ceiling with his dual-threat ability. He could be productive with an offense that’s more methodical and adapts well to his rushing ability. Plus, the Bears could fail in the next few years to find a prospect in the NFL draft that’s as talented as Fields.

• Not the best trade value

There may not be a lot of teams willing to break the bank for Fields at this point. The NFL world is witnessing the Browns struggle to find a trade partner for Baker Mayfield, so it could be quite difficult for CHI to receive multiple first-round picks for Fields.

Pros of trading away Fields

• Develop the right QB sooner

If Eberflus honestly feels like Fields isn’t the best fit, he shouldn’t be scared to start in a new direction. After all, if the Fields QB1 boat sinks, Eberflus will surely fail. If Eberflus has a QB prospect that he can acquire on a reasonable deal, he should start that path as soon as possible.

• Some trade value

There is a lot of popularity around Fields at this point in time. If a team like New Orleans or Arizona believes he can utilize their offense on a quality level, the Bears may want to trade him with a modest amount of trade value to a new team. If Fields struggles for a second straight season with a new coach, he could have very little trade value.

Verdict

I would like to see the Bears draft a QB in round two (ex: Carson Strong) and then allow Fields to compete with a young, new QB. I’d still love to see the Bears select a WR in round two and potentially sign a FA WR, as well. It would be smart to see the Bears take Strong in round two and have him groomed for a year. Nonetheless, If Fields has a 2022 outcome that’s similar to Tua’s 2021 season, he should be leaned on in 2023.

Kirk Cousins was the second option to RG3 in Washington many seasons back, but he ascended into the starting QB spot. Jameis Winston was also introduced to New Orleans after Taysom Hill was mystically projected to be a great QB, but Winston won the starting QB role in the end. Strong or another young QB could certainly be the future Bears starting QB if Fields doesn’t pan out.

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By: Jake Rajala

A large percentage of the NFL audience would tell you that it was inevitable that Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields would be the starting QB in Chicago at some point this season. Well, what just happened today? Matt Nagy announced that Fields would be the lead signal-caller in their Week 3 matchup. 

Former starting QB Andy Dalton is yet another journeyman QB to face an unfortunate injury (with Ryan Fitzpatrick starting the trend). Dalton’s left knee injury is the reason behind his upcoming absence. Coach Nagy is reluctant to say his step-son won’t cough up the starting gig to Fields if the rookie shines as the starter, but it would make too much sense for Fields to overturn Nagy’s fixed QB judgment and prove he’s the right choice as the starting QB. 

If Fields does shine and show to be the better choice as the starting QB, it would just be another tale of “the young QB taking the QB1 spot in wake of the veteran QB’s injury”. NFL fans have witnessed a vast number of veteran QBs getting injured in history, followed by young QBs taking the starting gig, and then the young buck not letting go of the QB1 spot. 

The once rookie Justin Herbert cemented the starting QB position in Los Angeles after veteran Tyrod Taylor went down with a horrible accident of an injury last season. Herbert then proceeded to win Offensive Rookie of The Year. A sixth-round QB by the name of Tom Brady also strolled onto the field in his second season of the league to start after Drew Bledsoe went down with a gruesome injury. Tom Brady didn’t only secure the starting QB spot, but he also just happened to go on to win seven world championships. 

Fields is clearly a talented athlete, but he’s also shown to be productive in limited reps on the field this season. 

The young QB can make defenses respect his rushing ability when he’s scanning the field in the pocket. He can also be a threat in the red zone to oust damage himself, but his all-purpose ability can even open things up for his teammates. Stud RB David Montgomery should undoubtedly see a boost in efficiency from a rushing threat at the QB position. 

Fields does not have a rocket launcher for an arm, but he does have impressive passing skills when he’s on the move. Allen Robinson hasn’t been able to get hot this season so far (8-59-1), so if Fields can connect with A-Rob from not just in the pocket, but also with more plays off play action and when the young QB breaks the pocket, it would show to be a benefit for A-Rob and the offense as a whole. If Fields can ignite Robinson, Jimmy Graham, and take care of the football, it would make sense to expect the 22-year-old to hold onto the starting role. The “football gods” and logic should soon be on Fields’s side for the case to be the Bears true starting QB.

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