There is a possibility that Chicago Bears’ QB Justin Fields isn’t the answer. Who are three options to replace him in 2024 if that is the case? It’s now or never for Justin Fields in a Chicago Bears’ uniform. The 2023 NFL season is the year that he has to show more and improve as a passer if he wants to stick around in Chicago.
Bears’ GM Ryan Poles has done a very nice job of surrounding Fields with the necessary pieces to develop into a competent passer. An improved offensive line and wide receiver core are the most notable improvements from Poles. DJ Moore forms a nice trio alongside Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney, and additions along the offensive line of Nate Davis and Darnell Wright are surely going to help keep Fields upright.
However, while many across the NFL are predicting Justin Fields to breakout in year three, there is still a possibility that he does not, perhaps falls flat on his face, and is bumped out of the QB1 role for someone else. Let’s dive into who else that could be.
Chicago Bears: 3 replacements if Justin Fields isn’t the answer
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is a free agent in 2024 and I truly do not think the Minnesota Vikings are going to bring him back. He’s been an efficient but not elite QB for really his entire career. He’s been a model of above-average consistency in the NFL, and you know what you’re going to get from him.
Cousins is also the type of passer who could sustain success as he continues to approach 40. He’s a pure pocket passer and hasn’t shown any signs of declining, even as he enters his age-35 season. If the Chicago Bears are confident that they can make something happen in 2024 and are not sold on Fields, Cousins could be a very nice 1-2 year solution for the team.
He’d ideally need to be paired with a draft pick in 2024 or 2025, but Chicago is dying for solid QB play, and if nothing else, Kirk Cousins can bring that for a little bit while Ryan Poles sorts out the long-term QB situation.
Chicago Bears: 3 replacements if Justin Fields isn’t the answer
Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray recently signed a massive contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, but that was from the old regime. With new faces in town at GM and HC, Murray might not be on solid ground. He’s also recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in the 2022 NFL season, and there is really no indication when Murray is going to return to the field.
Well, the Cardinals also happen to have the worst roster in the NFL and likely have the best odds at earning the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is already seen as a generational prospect, and I really do not think the Cardinals would pass up a chance to draft Williams if they earn that top pick.
Drafting Williams and finding a trade partner for Kyler Murray might be a better timing situation for their likely lengthy rebuilding process. The Chicago Bears could then be a very logical landing spot for Murray, who is a similar QB to Fields.
However, Murray is a proven QB in the NFL, and Fields is not. I also do not think that Murray would cost a ton in a trade. He may not play more than a few games in 2023, so there could be some caution from potential buyers.
The Cardinals would get to dump that massive contract from their books, and the Bears would finally get a franchise QB. I think this is a win-win for both sides.
Chicago Bears: 3 replacements if Justin Fields isn’t the answer
A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears have two first-round picks in 2024 and two second-round picks in 2025. They have enough capital to make a huge move up the draft boards as early as 2024 if they are wanting to move on from Justin Fields.
I’ll admit, I was very skeptical of what Ryan Poles was doing in his first year, but not only has he built a fine roster, but he’s got a highly-stocked cupboard of draft picks for the future. He seems to have laid out a scenario if Justin Fields isn’t the guy.
If that is the case, the Chicago Bears are likely already picking very high, but perhaps not high enough. That’s where Poles could wheel and deal one of his 1,401,201 draft picks to move up the board, perhaps selecting someone like Drake Maye.
Poles is still a new GM and is going to take a huge swing on a quarterback at some point if Justin Fields is not the answer. Having an elite QB in the NFL is a requirement to win games. I do not think Ryan Poles will hesitate to move on from Field for a younger QB if he is not showing enough in 2023.
Remember, Fields was drafted in 2021 by the Matt Nagy/Ryan Pace coalition, so he’s got no connections to the new regime, which is not insignificant in my opinion.