NFL source expresses doubts about Bears' Justin Fields amid Bryce Young rumors

It appears some within NFL circles aren't convinced quarterback Justin Fields is a long-term answer for the Chicago Bears. 

"We still don’t know if Fields can throw the ball well enough to win consistently, especially outside in Chicago in January," an unnamed league source told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post for a piece published Friday. "He’s the best running quarterback outside of (Baltimore Ravens starter) Lamar Jackson, but where has that gotten the Ravens in five years, even with Lamar’s development as a passer?" 

The Ravens have never played in an AFC Championship Game with Jackson atop their depth chart. 

Dunleavy's source offered the take about Fields at a time when some are linking the Bears with Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Bryce Young. Chicago owns the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and could either use it to select Young or trade that asset to a quarterback-needy team, as suggested by CBS Sports analysts Ryan Wilson and Chris Trapasso. 

"Bryce Young would be the, I think, the number one pick overall maybe even to the Chicago Bears, even though they have Justin Fields if he were bigger," ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper said earlier this week during a television appearance. 

ESPN has Young listed at 6-foot-0 and 194 pounds ahead of the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. 

Per ESPN stats, Fields ended the 2022 regular season 25th out of 34 eligible quarterbacks with an 85.2 passer rating, 17th out of 31 qualified players with a 54.0 total QBR, and 32nd out of 34 individuals with a 60.4% completion percentage. He threw 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions across 15 games but led all quarterbacks with 1,143 rushing yards. While he added eight scores on the ground, he also ended the campaign sidelined with a strained hip.

Dunleavy pointed out that Bears general manager Ryan Poles accepted the job last January and, thus, didn't draft Fields back in 2021. Theoretically, Poles could use the next couple of months to determine Fields' value on the trade market while the Chicago front office evaluates Young and other possible replacements.