Top Bears wide receiver makes pick for team's quarterback

The Chicago Bears have some big quarterback decisions to make over the next few months. Their top wide receiver, DJ Moore, has already made his pick for what he wants the team to do. He wants Justin Fields back as his quarterback for the 2024 season.

Moore made that point very clear during appearance on "PFT Live" on Thursday, citing Fields' leadership and the way he put together a strong finish to the 2023 season.

“His growth has been phenomenal. If you look at the games where he came back off of injury, he’s been everything you could ask out of a quarterback," Moore told PFT. "Puts us in a position to win, getting the ball to his playmakers and if he’s gotta do it himself he does it himself and takes it like 50, 60 yards and does his thing. That’s all you can ask, is just steady growth and that’s what he did.”

Fields appeared in 13 games for the Bears this season and threw for 2,562 yards (a new career high) with 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions. The Bears went 5-8 in his starts. His passer rating of 86.3, while just 30th in the league, was also a new career high.

Fields additionally rushed for 657 yards and four touchdowns.

The former Ohio State signal-caller has definitely shown progress from his rookie season two years ago, but the Bears have to decide if he has reached his ceiling or if there is still another level he can reach. They also have to decide if they are going to pass on the chance to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year.

After securing the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Bears ultimately traded it to Carolina for Moore and a collection of draft picks. The pick haul included a 2024 first-rounder that turned out to be the No. 1 overall selection. 

The Bears now have a chance to select USC's Caleb Williams, one of the most anticipated quarterback prospects to enter the NFL in years. If they select Williams they would almost certainly trade Fields – perhaps angling for another first-round pick. 

But if they believe Fields is a quarterback they can win with, the possibility of another trade out of the top spot – or perhaps using the pick on a non-quarterback – would certainly be on the table. Given how many teams would be willing to pay a huge price to secure Williams, the Bears could potentially get an even larger haul than they did for last year's top pick.