Sit back and relax. Get comfortable because the debate about what the Chicago Bears should do at the quarterback position is not going to go away. Many fans want the Bears to stick with Justin Fields. Many others want the Bears to use the first-overall pick on Caleb Williams. There are even a smaller few who want the Bears to trade Justin Fields, trade the first-overall pick, and draft one of the other quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft — Michael Penix, Jr., Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, etc.
The playoffs haven’t even wrapped up yet and we haven’t crowned a 2023 Super Bowl champion yet either. The NFL Combine is still weeks away. Free agency starts in March. The draft isn’t until April/May. We can expect trade talks and rumors to heat up at the NFL Combine, and last season Ryan Poles traded the first-overall pick to the Panthers less than two weeks into the month of March. I have to think that this year if the Chicago Bears decide to trade the first-overall pick and stick with Justin Fields, it will not happen until much closer to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Former NFL scout answers the Chicago Bears QB question
Ryan Poles might have an answer at the quarterback position already (doubtful), but if not, maybe hearing what a former NFL scout who analyzed all of Justin Fields’ film this season has to say could help.
Daniel Kelly spent four years with the New York Jets as a pro scout. Some might be thinking that a former scout is a former scout for a reason. However, anyone who lands an NFL scouting gig is worthy of properly analyzing film and weighing in on a player. In fact, his very first comment on the top is a perfect representation of what we have seen from Fields in his first three years.
“I am torn on Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who is the equivalent to an NFL scout riding a roller coaster at Six Flags. You are in for a lot of intense highs with the 24-year-old QB and a lot of nerve-wracking lows.”
– Daniel Kelly, Former NFL Scout
This is exactly what you get from Justin Fields. He makes plays that not many NFL quarterbacks can make, but then he also makes some boneheaded plays too. Kelly poured into Fields’ film from the 2023 season (13 games) and saw what he called breathtaking plays and plays that make you ask “What are you thinking?”
The Chicago Bears have seen plenty of negative from Justin Fields
Kelly spoke to the mistakes that Justin Fields made this season. The interceptions, a stat that is slightly inflated due to the two Hail Mary throws in the Cleveland Browns game — one of which wasn’t even caught. Fields still gave the ball away too much as he also lost four fumbles this season. Kelly also spoke to the fact that Fields has only produced four plays of over 40 yards — something that I was surprised to read. It defintely feels like there were more of them. Not everything was bad though.
When going through Fields’ game film, Daniel Kelly saw a quarterback who is very slippery in the pocket. Despite his high sack totals, Kelly loves what he sees from Justin Fields once outside the pocket. Some of the plays that work out well are not designed runs, but runs that Fields makes when improvising. This is great, but also at times a product of his own misfortune as he holds onto the ball too long.
Another thing that stands out to Kelly when watching Fields’ film is that he sees a quarterback first, not a runner. Fields is constantly looking downfield — sometimes to his detriment as he doesn’t always ‘feel’ the pressure.
Another area, and I was shocked to read this because it was a downfall of his in 2022, that Justin Fields excels in is the short-to-intermediate passing game. This could also be a product of Luke Getsy constantly calling screens. It is also likely a product of the receivers not consistently getting open outside of DJ Moore and the occassional Cole Kmet. Kelly talks about how Fields actually gets the ball out fast on these plays, something he struggles with on more traditional passing plays.
Well, if Daniel Kelly was on Ryan Poles’ scouting staff, he would recommend that the team continue to build around Justin Fields. He would prefer the team add another offensive lineman and a receiver like Marvin Harrison, Jr. to pair with DJ Moore. What do you think? Is Kelly onto something or off his rocker?
