Former NFL exec says Bears should trade Justin Fields, draft Bryce Young

Even with the start of the playoffs only days away, one of the hottest topics of conversation in the NFL surrounds the Chicago Bears and what they'll do with the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. 

ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum laid out an intriguing scenario this week, which involves the Bears trading their current quarterback and walking out of day one of the draft with a new one. 

On ESPN's "Get Up," Tannenbaum said if he were in charge of the Bears, he'd trade electric second-year quarterback Justin Fields for picks and use its top choice to select Alabama signal-caller and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young.

"I'm taking nothing away from him. I think he has a chance to be a good - maybe a top 10 quarterback," Tannenbaum said. "But, if you can get at least a first and third-round pick, which I believe you can because so many teams need a quarterback, I'm going to draft Bryce Young, who I think is going to be a better quarterback than Justin Fields. And when I do that and get at least a first and a third-round pick, I'm resetting Bryce Young's rookie contract, and I'm going to be able to get at least four starting-caliber players."

Tannebaum's idea isn't a wild one, but it is unlikely. On Tuesday, Bears general manager Ryan Poles responded, "Yeah," when asked by reporters if Justin Fields would be the team's starter in 2023. Poles added that he'd "have to be absolutely blown away" to take Young, or any other quarterback, at No. 1. 

While it's hard to see the Bears walking away from a still-developing Fields, that doesn't mean a trade is off the table. Poles and the Bears are in a good spot to help the team now and in the future by dealing the No. 1 pick, something he didn't dismiss when speaking with reporters.

"If the phones go off and there are certain situations that can help us, then we'll go down that avenue, too," Poles said.