2023 NFL quarterback analysis: Chicago Bears
Current starter: Justin Fields | Current backups: Tim Boyle, Nathan Peterman
State of the position: Although Fields got off to a rocky start, he turned things around in Week 5. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy seemingly found the right mix of passing and running plays to transform Fields into one of the most dangerous players on the field.
He threw for 200 or more yards only twice, but he ended the year with seven multi-touchdown games and had a passer rating of 99 or better in five games.
With the Bears holding the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, there have been musings of them drafting Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and possibly trading Fields for a bounty of draft picks, but that seems far-fetched.
It would, however, behoove Chicago to find a more capable backup heading into next season as Peterman, Boyle and Trevor Siemian combined to complete just 51.9 percent of their passes (27-of-52) for 320 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the two games that Fields missed this season.
Key stat: Fields’ 1,143 rushing yards are the second-most in a single season by a quarterback.
2023 QB forecast: Fields’ completion percentage, touchdowns and passer rating all improved in Year 2. He’s well-positioned to improve even more next year provided Chicago shores up the offensive line and finds another weapon for Fields to throw to.
Peterman and Boyle are both free agents once the season ends, and the free-agent market will be filled with veteran QBs for Chicago to choose from including Cooper Rush, Jacoby Brissett, Mason Rudolph, C.J. Beathard, Blaine Gabbert, Nick Mullens and Gardner Minshew.
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