The Chicago Bears may not be qualifying for the playoffs this season, but their outlook is bright. They have turned a corner in the last few weeks, playing some of the best football we have seen out of the Windy City in years.
At 7-9 heading into their season finale against the Green Bay Packers, ownership has to be pleased with the progress made. In Week 5, head coach Matt Eberflus looked to be on the chopping block as the team was 0-4 out of the gate.
Since that point, they have played a competent level, likely saving Eberflus’s job in the process. However, one person’s job who is up in the air in 2024 and beyond is quarterback Justin Fields. For the second straight year, the Bears will have the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
NFL News & Rumors: Justin Fields, 2024 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears Updates
Last year, it was because of their struggles. This year, it is via the Carolina Panthers, who traded their 2024 first-round pick as part of the package to move up to the No. 1 spot in the 2023 NFL Draft.
That package was a haul for the Bears, who also landed wide receiver D.J. Moore, who has put together a career season. But, according to Courtney Cronin and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, that trade from the Panthers pales in comparison to what Chicago will be able to get this year.
“Several executives agree Chicago could net more than it did in the Panthers trade, and from a prospective trade partner already picking in the top five. Those execs believe the price to get to No. 1 could be two future first-rounders on top of this year’s pick, along with a variation of a Day 2 pick and/or a premium veteran player on a manageable contract,” wrote Cronin and Fowler.
The Bears certainly have a difficult decision to make. Receiving that kind of draft capital to continue rebuilding the roster would be hard to pass up, especially with the strides Fields has made.
NFL News & Rumors: Justin Fields, 2024 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears Updates
Alas, Chicago could also opt to keep the pick and reset the quarterback clock if there is a prospect they like. Keep in mind, Fields was inherited by Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles from the last regime. They passed on selecting their own quarterback once; will they do so again?
Should they decide to select one of the signal callers in this year’s draft, Fields would likely be on the move. However, the compensation the Bears can expect to get in return for him could surprise some people.
As shared by Cronin and Fowler, a Day 2 pick is likely the going rate for Fields. It would be more than the fourth-round pick the San Francisco 49ers received for Trey Lance, but less than what the New York Jets received for Sam Darnold.
Fields isn’t considered to be on the same level as Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but a healthy debate could be made that the Ohio State product has been the most productive quarterback in that draft class. Whoever ends up with Fields in 2024 is getting a player who has shown he can be a starter in this league, especially when a team commits to building the roster around him as Chicago has begun doing.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
