For the second straight year, the Chicago Bears are in control of the NFL Draft. In 2023, they had the No. 1 pick and opted to trade it to the Carolina Panthers for a huge return package. This year, they have the first overall pick again, because of that trade with Carolina.
As part of the package, the Bears landed the Panthers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Carolina had the worst record in the league, going 2-15, and will convey that selection over to Chicago.
General manager Ryan Poles has a major decision to make now. Does he use that first pick on a quarterback, such as Caleb Williams or Drake Maye? Or does he trade the selection again and continue building the roster up around Justin Fields?
NFL News & Rumors: Justin Fields, Mike Evans, 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, Chicago Bears Updates
In the opinion of Aaron Schatz of ESPN, the Bears are going to use that first pick and select a quarterback. On top of that, they will make a huge splash in free agency, bringing in wide receiver Mike Evans.
“The Bears will use the No. 1 pick on a new quarterback and invest in that quarterback by signing Mike Evans, one of the top free agent wide receivers. Evans has 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons and would pair nicely with DJ Moore in this offense.” wrote Schatz.
The football world seems split on whether or not the Bears will keep or trade Fields. He has shown improvements as the team committed to building the roster up around him last offseason. But, in the opinion of Schatz, bringing in a rookie and resetting the salary cap at the position is too good to pass up.
The most valuable asset in the NFL is a quarterback on a rookie contract. Fields just finished his third season as a professional and his contract is going to start getting a little pricier.
NFL News & Rumors: Justin Fields, Mike Evans, 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Free Agency, Chicago Bears Updates
Trading him and restarting the salary clock at the position would enable the Bears to continue pouring assets into the rest of the roster around whoever they select first overall. With Moore coming off a career season already locked in at wide receiver, Chicago would have one of the best pass-catching duos in the NFL if they could snag Evans.
Evans will have plenty of suitors as a free agent this offseason. He has recorded 1,000+ yards in each of his first 10 seasons in the league, which is an NFL record. Whoever is playing quarterback from the Bears would benefit greatly from having a player of that caliber opposite Moore, giving them a chance to put together the best passing season in franchise history.
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