Bears Likely to Keep Justin Fields
In a press conference Tuesday, Bears GM Ryan Poles hinted at keeping Fields. Image: Big News Network
“We’ve always leaned [toward keeping Justin and trading the pick].”
In a press conference at the NFL Combine Tuesday, Bears GM Ryan Poles reinforced recent reports of looking to trade the first overall selection in this year’s draft. It was first announced early Monday morning in a tweet from Adam Schefter that the Bears not only had received offers for the pick, but were also leaning toward moving it.
Poles has kept up smokescreens about what he would do in the draft. He still plans to do his due diligence on this year’s quarterback class, stating that he needed to spend time with top prospects like Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, “just to make sure we’re making the right decision.”
The chatter around trading quarterback Justin Fields had many Bears fans worried, but Poles’ press conference has put many of those rumors to rest. After telling reporters that his franchise had received multiple inquiries about the first pick, he said that no teams had asked about the availability of Fields.
Poles has all the leverage in the situation, and appears to be using it. His transparency about the offers that are being put on the table further illustrates the idea that he knows that a deal will be getting done, and at the moment, it doesn’t seem like such a deal would include Justin Fields.
He’s made it a point to have many conversations about the situation with Fields. Given the smokescreens he’s attempting to put up about his intentions, it’s possible that such conversations behind closed doors could include Poles clearing any rumors of Fields getting traded.
The young GM has yet to waver in his support for his QB, and for good reason. His 23-year-old signal caller was one of the most dynamic players in the entire NFL last year. With the unique ability to evade would-be tacklers and turn 3rd-and-long into an exciting first down, Fields put up huge rushing numbers in 2022, and would have likely broken the single-season QB rushing record, had he played 17 games. He shouldered much of the rushing workload, and also helped to take pressure off of running backs like Khalil Herbert, who averaged almost six yards per carry as a result.
“His athletic ability and ability to create explosive plays were special,” Poles said of Fields in his press conference. He also showed enthusiasm for the development of the young passer, and that he was excited to see where his game would go.
He did mention that Fields had much room for improvement, most notably throwing the ball. Fields admitted so himself, saying that he needed to be sharper on short and intermediate passes. However, Fields’ work ethic combined with his unmatched ability to make plays clearly show that his game is headed in the right direction.
Could Bears fans forgive Poles if he were to trade Fields, and he made that third-year jump, just like fellow quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen? At least for now, it seems he doesn’t want to find out.
