Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Bears GM suggests team could make QB decision soon

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 2/27/24

Bears quarterback Justin Fields won't have to wait much longer to know where he'll play in 2024.

On Tuesday, Bears general manager Ryan Poles opened up about the team's pending decision. Chicago has the No.1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and could select a quarterback or trade the pick and roll with Fields as its starter during the upcoming season.

Poles revealed that he'd prefer a decision to be reached before free agency begins on March 11, noting that it would only be fair to Fields to trade him before the start of free agency if the Bears decide to draft a quarterback.

Bears’ GM Ryan Poles said today that, if the team decides to draft a QB with the No. 1 overall pick, he doesn’t think it would be right not to trade Justin Fields before free agency begins. pic.twitter.com/0TkSSpZzoW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2024

"If we go down that road, I want to do right by Justin as well," said Poles.

Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and (likely) Russell Wilson will be free agents, giving teams in the QB market a couple of veteran options to pursue.
Others will tackle the need in the draft, which will further depress the market for Fields.

By setting a soft deadline for a trade, the Bears can set a course for the rest of the offseason. Per Over The Cap, Chicago has the second-most cap space in the league ($78.3 million). It can go on a spending spree to pair with a rookie quarterback on a cost-controlled contract or take a more measured approach as it prepares to re-up on Fields.

If the Bears retain the former Ohio State quarterback, they could then turn toward escalating the bidding war for the No. 1 pick. With the draft not until April, the front office could drag that process out until it gets the best possible trade package.

Last week, Fields revealed during an appearance on the "St. Brown Brothers" podcast with NFL wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Equanimeous St. Brown that he's ready for the saga to be over one way or another.

"Of course, I want to stay," said Fields, then adding, "I think the biggest thing with all this going on right now, I just want it to be over... Just let me know if I'm getting traded; let me know if I'm staying."

If Poles is to be believed, Fields should soon get his wish.

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