Regardless of frenzied trade speculation that reached a fever pitch across the March thirteenth begin of the 2024 NFL league yr, Fields hasn’t been moved but.
The Bears’ general goal usually feels misplaced within the vortex of a rumor mill approaching hyperspeed. Their objective is to not get the very best return for Fields or flip one other first-round choose right into a choose bonanza, however to maximise the possibilities of discovering a star quarterback who will stabilize the place for years.
That’s the solely goal the Bears are (or ought to be) targeted on.
Seen from that lens, maintaining Fields and drafting a QB feels extra like a possibility and fewer like a burden.
Historical past reveals that even with the No. 1 choose, the possibilities of the Bears drafting a quarterback who seems to be a long-term starter are round 50/50 at best.
Earlier than final yr’s draft, Warren Sharp checked out all first-round QB picks since 2011 and located that just one has received a Tremendous Bowl, solely six made the convention championship sport, and solely 39 % earned a second contract.
If NFL groups cannot reliably predict the potential high quality of QBs, they might be clever to take an method that focuses on amount.
From Tom Brady to Brock Purdy to Aaron Rodgers to Patrick Mahomes, soccer historical past is stuffed with groups rewarded for including a QB even once they already had a “starter.”
An period of prompt QB gratification continues to rule the league regardless of no confirmed observe document justifying the method. Solely 10 rookies started week 1 within the Eighties and Nineties mixed — 5 every decade. Final yr alone, three rookies began Week 1.
Solely 5 of the final 25 Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterbacks began the primary sport of their rookie yr: Peyton Manning (twice), Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Matthew Stafford.
Brady, Mahomes and Rodgers mixed for a single rookie begin (Mahomes in a meaningless Week 17 sport).
Whether or not by design or circumstance, the longer Fields stays in Chicago, the nearer the Bears are to picking the trail that maximizes their alternative to discover a long-term reply at QB. D
rafting a QB and redshirting him or letting him develop at his personal tempo is a confirmed technique for achievement. The most important arguments in opposition to this method are that it may trigger locker-room issues and that there are a restricted quantity of snaps out there with the first-team offense.
Whereas these prospects exist, a bunch of grown males getting paid immense sums of cash to play a sport ought to have the ability to deal with these points. They did not stunt the expansion of Mahomes, Brady or Rodgers.
Maybe a deal for Fields is imminent, and the Bears will observe the one-at-a-time mannequin that has proven restricted success but seems extra standard than ever.
But when maintaining Fields is a part of the Bears’ plan, do not knock it as loopy; settle for it as them following a confirmed path to discovering a long-term reply at quarterback.