There should be no more doubt about Bears' 2024 NFL Draft plans

The Chicago Bears seem to know what they want to do with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Saturday's trade of quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers should all but confirm it.

While there was still some discussion as to whether or not the Bears might move off the No. 1 pick for the second year in a row, any possibility of that should have been thrown out the window when they were willing to deal the No. 11 overall pick from 2021 for a draft pick that will be, at best, a fourth-round selection -- in 2025. 

This now leaves the Bears primed to take USC's Caleb Williams with the top pick and make him their new franchise quarterback

The only thing that made all of this possible was the Bears' decision to trade last year's No. 1 pick to Carolina for a boatload of picks and players that included Carolina's 2024 first-round pick. That pick turned out to be the No. 1 pick that will now almost certainly bring them Williams. 

While Fields never panned out into the star the Bears hoped he would be, he is still a talented playmaker who still has some upside. The only reason you give up on him and trade him for a mid-round pick next year is because you know you are getting ready to take his replacement. 

The Bears probably could have tried to make another run with Fields and continue to build more talent around him, but you can not pass on the chance to take a quarterback with the top pick in the draft two years in a row unless you are 110% certain you have your franchise guy.

Fields never provided enough to justify that sort of belief. So that leaves the Bears with a chance to get what they hope will be their guy. 

They have already added more talent to their offense this offseason with the additions of wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back D'Andre Swift. Along with returning star wide receiver D.J. Moore (also acquired in last year's trade for the No. 1 overall pick) and also their own first-round pick at No. 9 overall the Bears have a chance for a franchise-changing offseason. They took another big step toward making it happen on Saturday evening.