We’re just over two months away from when the Chicago Bears will have to make a final decision on what to do with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Whatever they decide will have a direct impact on Justin Fields’ future in Chicago.
Related: See where Justin Fields lands in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings
While Fields has been viewed as the potential Bears QB of the future since the moment Chicago traded up to draft him 11th overall in 2021, he has rarely shown the ability to take command of an offense.
Racking up over 2,200 yards, Fields may be explosive as a runner, but his career completion rate of 60.3% shows there’s plenty of room for improvement as a passer. This is why the Bears are viewed as a very serious candidate to draft USC’s Caleb Williams with the first pick later this April, yet Chicago’s organization is doing all they can to make us believe otherwise.
Chicago Bears keep heaping praise on Justin Fields with Caleb Williams decision looming
It was just over two weeks ago when the Chicago Bears’ social media team shared a Justin Fields montage of his best highlights. Now, Bears CEO Kevin Warren is getting in on the act, hyping up Fields as a ‘rare’ talent.
Related: As rumors of drafting Caleb Williams swirl, Chicago Bears drop highlight montage of Justin Fields
“I’m a supporter of Justin because I got a chance to work with him when I was Commissioner of the Big Ten conference. He is incredibly talented. He is smart. He works hard. And he wants to be a great NFL football player. And now he just needs to make sure he has the support around him. He’s working hard. I would love to see him this offseason and make sure he’s totally healthy going into the season next year.”
Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren on Justin Fields
“Justin has a rare combination of intelligence, of size, of strength and speed,” Warren added. “You forget how big of a man he is until you’re up on him. He’s not a small man. I just think every year he’s going to continually get better. . . . I’m glad he’s [Fields] on the Chicago Bears.”
That reads like a ringing endorsement for Fields to stay in Chicago, but the Bears’ executive may simply be doing what many other NFL decision-makers do by talking up a player on their roster, only to trade them days, weeks, or months later.
The Bears can say whatever they want about Fields, but it doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed a roster spot for the 2024 season. Until he arrives at training camp for what will be his fourth season in Chicago, we’ll continue believing the Bears are evaluating all options, which may even include a crazy scenario where Fields and another rookie first-round QB share reps during the preseason.
