The Chicago Bears have won three of their last four games. They’re 5-8 and two fourth quarter collapses away from being 7-6. This team has played a lot better since the beginning of October. Head coach Matt Eberflus, for all his flaws, deserves credit for keeping players motivated and focused. His work with the defense alone is worthy of respect. Then there is Justin Fields. After a rough start to the season, the third-year quarterback has found a groove over the past two months. In his last six starts, he’s compiled 11 total touchdowns, over 1600 total yards, and only two interceptions.
He hasn’t been perfect, but the improvement is hard to deny. Many Bears fans believe he has shown more than enough to justify a fourth season next year. Others aren’t so sure. Draft insider Matt Miller of ESPN still mocked USC star Caleb Williams to Chicago at #1 overall. He’s not alone in that assessment. Former Dolphins and Saints general manager Randy Mueller weighed in on the subject for The Athletic. While he still believes in Fields’ talent, he feels the allure of a new rookie contract and Williams’ talent will convince GM Ryan Poles to make a change.
“My colleague Mike Sando mentioned in his Pick Six column Monday that Bears quarterback Justin Fields is auditioning for his next gig as an NFL starter, as it seems more and more likely he won’t remain in Chicago. No matter how well Fields plays, the lure of a new rookie quarterback contract, the undisputed talent of Caleb Williams and a need to change the team’s mindset — which has improved but needs much more — will be too enticing…
…I supported Fields as he was coming out of college, and I still do. On film this year, he’s shown improved pocket presence. He can sit in the pocket and deliver a strike downfield. His accuracy has improved — he still has some bad misses, but it’s not a fatal flaw. Still, his vision remains inconsistent, and even though he flashes anticipation and improved timing, identifying open targets is still a work in progress.”
The NFL can be a cruel business at times. It’s not his fault the people who drafted him got fired after one season. If Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace were still in charge, it’s unlikely Fields would be in any danger. Poles chose to give him another year to keep developing. Based on the latest evidence, Fields has done that. The question is whether he’s done it enough. His processing speed is better but still slower than usual for what is considered a franchise quarterback. He still takes unnecessary sacks and has never really fixed his fumbling issues. Poles already took a significant risk passing on Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud last year. Can he really justify doing so a second time? Few GMs ever get the chance to pick #1 overall twice.
The good news is Justin Fields still has time. There are four games left. If he can finish strong, hopefully with more wins, it may sway things in his favor. The schedule isn’t insurmountable. Chicago has the banged-up Cleveland Browns this weekend, followed by a homestand against Arizona and Atlanta. It also certainly wouldn’t hurt if he finally beats Green Bay for the first time in the season finale. While Mueller may accept the reality that Fields is already gone, the truth is the evaluation is incomplete.
