Report Says Bears Backing Justin Fields

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says Bears must be "blown away" to draft a quarterback high.

Some phrases always seem to keep coming back.

Bears GM Ryan Poles said he'd have to be "blown away" before the last draft by a quarterback to move on from Justin Fields.

Now it's being said again, though not by a member of the organization.

Instead, NFL Network league insider Ian Rapoport was using the term in relation to the Bears draft for 2024 and in regards to Justin Fields.

At a time when everyone believes the seven-game wrap to this season constitutes Justin Fields' critical evaluation period, Rapoport suggested on NFL Network the Bears will not necessarily be moving on from their quarterback.

"My understanding, they'd have to be blown away by a potential quarterback to pick him high. They will weigh that evlauation against Fields," Rapoport said.

It's very premature to start talking about draft strategy for 2024. They didn't bring the phrase out last year until the off-season run up to the draft.

Ian Rapoport says the Bears want to see consistency from Justin Fields over the final 7 games.

Said the Bears would have to be “blown away” to draft a QB high in 2024.

“Blown away” was the phrase Ryan Poles used when asked about drafting a QB in 2023. pic.twitter.com/jgi2Ed3jRw

— Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) November 19, 2023

The Bears missed on the chance to take this year's hot rookie quarterback, Fields' former Ohio State teammate C.J. Stroud.

What must be remembered is the process to be blown away is not concluded. They still have the NFL combine, pro days and possible private workouts to go, as well as potential bowl games or all-star games for quarterbacks to impress.

This year USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye and a few others could be first-round quarterback options. Saying unequivocally that they'd have to be "blown away" at this point is anything but a stance cemented in concrete.

In fact, no one can even say at this point who will be coaching the team or drafting the players.

So this is simply a report to remember for later. Or it could be nothing at all.

Fields makes his return to the field Sunday at noon against the Lions after 4 1/2 games away due to a dislocated thumb.

In his last three games before his injury, Fields was 49 of 74 for 675 yards with eight touchdown passes and two interceptions. He had a passer rating of 120.05 for those games. however, the last game in those three was against Minnesota and he was 6 of 10 for 58 yards with an interception and four sacks before he was injured and left the game early in the second half.

After the way coach Matt Eberflus said he needed to see more consistency from Fields in the last seven games, it sounds as if the quarterback position could be a matter of contention between the head coach and general manager at season's end. That is, if there is anything to the report at all.

Such talk could also all be tied in to strategy to trade down and pilfer players and picks from another team the way the Bears did last year when they acquired DJ Moore and Carolina's 2024 first-round pick.

The Bears own Carolina's pick in the draft and it's currently No. 1. Their own pick is currently No. 5. in the draft.

Williams had been the consensus No. 1 pick of the draft throughout the college season but in recent weeks opinions seem to have soured on him somewhat as he struggled during his team's 1-5 finish after a 6-0 start. 

After what could have been his final game Saturday, Williams went 31 of 42 for 384 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 38-20 defeat by UCLA.

In his final six games, Williams went 147 of 222 for 1,811 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions for an NFL passer rating of 95.76.

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