The Chicago Bears and their quarterback dilemma have been the talk of the league.
Do the Monsters of the Midway use their no. 1 overall draft pick in this April’s NFL draft to select USC standout prospect Caleb Williams, who many feel could develop into a franchise quarterback, or do they hold on to current QB Justin Fields, who has shown flashes of brilliance and a growing on-field maturity?
If the Bears choose the former, they’ll be trading Fields to the highest bidder. If they choose the latter, they’ll likely be trading away their no. 1 pick for a haul of talent.
One former Bear, however, is leaning towards keeping Fields.
Chicago Bears Ex-Player Supports Keeping Fields
Alshon Jeffery, who played wide receiver for Chicago from 2012 to 2016, was recently asked about his solution to the Bears’ quarterback dilemma.
“That’s a tough decision…I think I would keep him, though, because he’s shown the capability,” Jeffery said on the Under Center Bears podcast. “Like, you just gotta put the right pieces. I feel like you should put him in the best situation because he has shown he can make throws. Obviously, he can use his legs…If I’m the Bears, I would keep him and I would build around him and just try to trade that first pick back and get some more draft picks. Why not?”
Other Say Fields Just Isn’t That Good
Denver Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright of KOAColorado, in an appearance on “The Big Douglas Show,” has already offered up his answer to the “why not keep Justin” question.
“He’s not that good, if we’re being honest,” Allbright said. “He’s an athletic marvel, but as a passer it’s not been good. It’s not all been the offensive line or receivers either, he’s just not been that good.
“The turnaround that Chicago had at the end of the season wasn’t because of Justin Fields. I mean, he had his normal bad numbers. It was the defense of Chicago all of a sudden getting a lot better. That’s not to say that Justin can’t turn into something. That’s not to say the offense wasn’t holding him back. It’s just saying that he’s not been good to date. He’s something like 8 and 27 as a starter [actually, 10-28]. That’s not all the supporting cast and the offense. Part of that is you at some point.”
That anti-Fields sentiment is countered by some very supportive teammates.
Bears Support Fields
Chicago Bears, Justin Fields, Atlanta Falcons
Dec 31, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields (1) passes in the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Wide receiver DJ Moore has been a vocal supporter of Fields and recently flat-out said that no signal caller available in this year’s draft can top Chicago’s current QB.
“I still don’t think they compare to Justin right now,” Moore said on NFL Total Access, when asked about the quarterbacks available in this year’s draft.
When asked about what the Bears should do with their top draft pick, the veteran said that it should be used to pick up another offensive weapon for his quarterback.
“I want to say, yeah, we could add another receiver,” Moore said. “They got some real talented ones [in the draft]. I know Marvin (Harrison Jr.), so that’d be a choice of mine. But any of those guys that are the big names, I’ve seen and really liked.”
“Justin is the quarterback of the future,” wide receiver Darnell Mooney told media back in December. “He’s the franchise quarterback. He’s been balling. I don’t understand why it’s anymore questions. Obviously, we have the [No. 1 pick] because of Carolina right now, but Justin is a dog. If he’s not here, he’ll be somewhere else balling. I’m not the guy that makes those decisions, but Justin is dog. Wherever he may be, if it’s not here, he’s still going to ball.”
Although the consensus opinion seems to be that Chicago will draft Caleb Williams and trade Fields, it should be noted that Fields has some very high-profile supporters who know the game and want to keep him a Bear.
