Bears insider rejects radical Justin Fields, Caleb Williams idea

Chicago Bears insider Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago suggested on Tuesday that fans shouldn't get married to the idea of the club having both 2023 Week 1 starting quarterback Justin Fields and USC Trojans signal-caller Caleb Williams on the roster this summer. 

"General manager Ryan Poles said he wanted to 'do right by' Fields once the Bears' quarterback plan was crystalized," Schrock explained. "That involves giving the 25-year-old a fresh start. The Bears also don't want to draft Williams and bring him into a locker room that has been so vocal in support of Fields."

Specifically, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and wide receiver D.J. Moore are among Chicago players who have publicly supported the team keeping Fields atop the depth chart through at least 2024. Regardless, most respected analysts believe the Bears will make Williams the draft's first overall pick later this spring. 

While former quarterback Ryan Leaf generated headlines when he said last week he thinks Williams should sit as a rookie, Schrock shot that plan down. Schrock also mentioned that Chicago's current situation is nothing like when the Kansas City Chiefs had then-veteran Alex Smith serve as a mentor for Patrick Mahomes after Kansas City made Mahomes a first-round draft choice in 2017. 

"Fields is young and wants to prove he's a franchise-caliber quarterback in the NFL," Schrock continued. "He wouldn't be a veteran mentor and placeholder. The Bears also believe their window to start contending is opening now, and they clearly believe that making a change at quarterback is their best way to kick that window open." 

Chicago's biggest problem as it pertains to trading Fields sooner rather than later may be related to the fact that a plethora of clubs previously linked in stories with the 2021 first-round draft selection addressed their quarterback situations during the NFL's legal tampering portion of free agency. Additionally, Fields essentially is a one-year rental considering his team must decide about his option worth around $25.7M for the 2025 season by the May 2 deadline.

"The Bears should prioritize what is best for Williams, their future, and Fields and trade him before mandatory minicamp," Schrock concluded. "It's in the best interest of all parties for this to get done, even if the return is much less than expected."

To compare, the New England Patriots reportedly will accept a 2024 sixth-round draft pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars in return for quarterback Mac Jones.