Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is going to be the center of many a trade rumor over the coming months. The former first-round pick entered the season in a crucial third year where he needed to prove that he had what it took to be a franchise quarterback. After having no real support during his first two seasons, the Bears finally added a true WR1 in D.J. Moore while improving the offensive line and defense. If Fields couldn’t win with this team, then Chicago would have likely rebuilt in 2024.
Fortunately, Justin Fields proved that he was up to the task in 2023. While he’s not an elite quarterback by any means, he proved that he’s a top-32 passer in the league and deserves a starting job in the NFL. The quarterback finished the season with the 20th-best PFF grade in the league and ranked 23rd out of 34 quarterbacks in EPA/play. Chicago finished with a 7-10 record, and normally a performance like this is enough to justify another year under center.
Unfortunately for Justin Fields, the Bears also have the first-overall pick thanks to the Carolina Panthers. With elite quarterback prospects in Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, reports across the league indicate that the Bears are likely to trade Fields and start over with one of the younger arms. Fields himself is well aware of these rumors and said an unofficial goodbye to the City of Chicago during his most recent press conference