It feels like Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson expects the staff will ultimately commerce quarterback Justin Fields both earlier than or after the membership makes USC Trojans signal-caller Caleb Williams the primary decide of the 2024 NFL Draft this spring.
“We all know the enterprise that we’re in,” Johnson acknowledged whereas talking with reporters on Monday, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Solar-Occasions. “So I really feel prefer it wouldn’t be mature of us as a locker room to not rally collectively despite having Justin go away.”
Whereas mock drafts proceed to hyperlink the Bears with Williams, there appears to be little trade market for Fields as groups across the NFL perceive the 2021 first-round draft decide will quickly be surplus to necessities in Chicago. In line with Alex Shapiro of NBC Sports activities Chicago, NFL Community persona Daniel Jeremiah recommended on Monday that the Philadelphia Eagles or Baltimore Ravens may ultimately take into account taking a flier on Fields to make him a backup. For a bit printed Monday afternoon, Courtney Cronin of ESPN speculated that the Bears “may maintain Fields and a rookie quarterback drafted No. 1 total on the roster all through the offseason and commerce the 25-year-old when an damage takes out a starter.”
Johnson made it recognized Monday he needs Fields to stay round till additional discover.
“I do know what it might do to maintain him right here,” Johnson added concerning the membership’s present QB1. “I understand how we might really feel with him right here…We’ll all have our opinions, our feelings, however so far as the locker room staying collectively, I believe we have now the correct guys within the locker room to maintain every little thing collectively, to maintain us collectively.”
The Atlanta Falcons,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
Pittsburgh Steelers,
New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings are amongst groups that made non-Fields-related quarterback plans forward of and/or throughout the NFL’s authorized tampering portion of free company. Many analysts imagine New England will even take a signal-caller with the third decide of the 2024 draft, and Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic was amongst people who predicted on Tuesday that the Vikings may purchase the fifth total alternative by way of a commerce after which use that asset to land a rookie quarterback.
It is unclear if Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles would ship Fields to Minnesota or another division rival earlier than Week 1 of the 2024 season.