The Chicago Bears sent the NFL world a signal this week they’re ready to negotiate a trade for Justin Fields ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears had a big decision to make this offseason, where the team will own the number one overall pick for a second year in a row.

The Bears traded for a major haul from the Carolina Panthers last spring. The Bears received wide receiver D.J. Moore, a 2023 first and second-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick.

General manager Ryan Poles said in January the Bears would do their homework before determining if they would draft a quarterback in this year’s draft or keep Fields for the 2024 season.

The Chicago Bears want a crazy amount for the No. 1 pick

According to Ian Rapoport, the Bears would only trade the rights to the number one pick for a “historical” haul. The Bears would want much more than what they gave up to the Panthers last year. Rapoport indicates the Bears are leaning toward selecting Caleb Williams with the number one pick:

If someone is going to pry the No. 1 overall selection away from the Bears, they are going to have to pay — and pay a lot.

Chicago would need a historic haul of draft picks and overall compensation to move off the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, sources say. In the words of one source, it would have to be “crazy.”

That indicates the Bears, who received the pick in a mammoth trade last offseasonwith the Panthers, are more likely than not to make the pick and land their new franchise QB.

USC star Caleb Williams is currently No. 1 on Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 list on NFL.com, and many evaluators around the NFL agree. Those who have scouted him view him as a special player, and his scouting picture is becoming clearer the more time teams spend on him.

The Bears sent a signal they’re ready to trade Justin Fields

It seems clear why the source leaked this information to Rapoport ahead of the Super Bowl. The Bears want to find a trade partner for Fields as soon as possible. The Bears need to have a trade in place before March 13, the start of the league new year and free agency.

The Bears are signaling to the league they want bidders for Fields. It’s highly unlikely the teams will be able to come up with an offer the Bears want for the number one pick. Passing on the opportunity to draft Williams could haunt the Poles’ regime in Chicago.

Poles is already receiving heavy criticism from Chicago media for passing on the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year, C.J. Stroud, in the 2023 NFL Draft. Poles cannot afford to miss on an elite quarterback in this year’s draft.

The Chicago Bears need to build around Caleb Williams

Per most scouts and analysts, Williams has the highest ceiling of any prospect in this year’s draft class to be an elite quarterback in the NFL.

The Bears could keep Fields and draft Williams. However, it would be best for the Bears to trade Fields for another draft pick to help the rookie quarterback. Fields’ development was hurt by a lack of talent on the offensive line and at receiver during his first three seasons in Chicago.

Fields has shown enough talent to prove he can be a starter in the NFL. The Bears should be able to find a trade partner that could put Fields in a position to be successful with a fresh start.