With the final stretch of the 2023 NFL season underway, the Bears are set to face a crucial decision on the future of quarterback Justin Fields. While the play of Fields in the final seven games will make a huge impact on the team’s decision regarding his future in Chicago, one other interesting factor is how the franchise views this class of rookie signal-callers.
More specifically, the Bears would need to be “blown away” by a rookie quarterback ahead of the 2024 NFL draft in order to move on from Fields, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rapoport also detailed what Fields needs to show over the final stretch of the season to prove he can be the starter in Chicago for the long haul.
Here's what the organization wants to see: Is this a QB who can win multiple championships? Can he be consistent enough, especially in key moments like red-zone and two-minute offense? Can he execute with the game on the line? Can he avoid turning the ball over and keep drives going?
So it’ll start with Fields and how he can perform down the stretch, which was unquestionably the initial factor of evaluation. But the real question may be whether there’s a rookie quarterback capable of blowing away the Bears and convincing the front office that the signal-caller is more well-equipped to right the ship than Fields.
The Bears currently hold their own first-round draft pick, as well as the No. 1 overall pick (currently) by virtue of March’s trade with the Panthers.
