The Chicago Bears face some big decisions this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles is in Year 3 of his rebuild. The expectation now is for the team to make it into the playoffs. Poles followed the Theo Epstein blueprint of rebuilding. He tore everything down and had to take a tough season with basically JV players.
Last offseason, Poles had the number one pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Additionally, he had over $100 million in salary cap to work with. He filled many holes via free agency and traded the top pick for a massive haul. He received picks that he turned into offensive lineman Darnell Wright and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, both of whom had productive rookie seasons.
Poles was also able to pick up this year's number one pick in addition to the ninth pick. Add to that the nearly $70 million in cap space, and the Chicago Bears are ready to have a huge offseason.
The biggest question for Poles and the Bears is what to do at quarterback. While Justin Fields is the starter, this draft class is deep at quarterback. The head of that class is USC quarterback Caleb Williams. There are many who consider him a generational talent. They feel it would be crazy for Poles to walk away from him.
The intense debate with the Chicago Bears is whether to draft Caleb Williams or build around Justin Fields. What if the team goes with another quarterback?
The "Team Fields" and "Team Williams" has been so intense that it caused a chasm within the fanbase. Each side is entrenched and is very much against the other side. It has gotten so bad that even Fields said he unfollowed both the Chicago Bears and the NFL because he was tired of seeing all the posts about him and Williams.
With all the intense debate among Bears and NFL fans, what if Poles pulls a fast one? While many feel that Williams is an elite talent and the Bears should choose him, there are quite a few who do not feel that way. They feel that Williams is not worthy of the number one pick. There are other quarterbacks they would select.
Drake Maye, North Carolina
Could Poles try to test fate? In 2017, the Chicago Bears drafted Mitchell Trubisky, a quarterback out of North Carolina, to be their franchise quarterback. They did so despite having Patrick Mahomes available. Mahomes went n to become one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history while Trubisky failed to stick to his third team.
Would Poles avoid selecting a prospect compared to Mahomes for a similar quarterback from North Carolina? Even though Poles was not the one who picked Trubisky over Mahomes (he was actually the beneficiary since he was with the Kansas City Chiefs at the time), that decision weighs heavily on the franchise.
The similarities between Trubisky and Maye are there in a few ways. They are both big, strong, athletic quarterbacks who, while are mainly pocket passers, can use their legs. Their final seasons were similar as well. Maye threw for 3,608 yards on a 63.3 percent completion rate, logging 24 touchdowns to nine interceptions. In one more game played, Trubisky threw for 3,748 yards on a 68 percent completion rate, logging 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
Poles likely won't make a move that could be a repeat of one of the worst moves in franchise history. This is too close to what happened in 2017. If he selects Maye and one of the other quarterbacks hit it big, it will cost him his job.
JJ McCarthy, Michigan
Here is a wacky scenario -- Poles trades the top pick for a haul. Then he also trades Fields and gets even more picks. After that, he decides to go for JJ McCarthy. McCarthy just led the Michigan Wolverines to the College Football Championship.
Unlike the other quarterback prospects, McCarthy is not flashy. He doesn't exhibit elite talent. What he does, however, is show solid talent in nearly every category. He is a smart quarterback who makes the right plays. If you need him to make a big play he could do it. He won't be the best quarterback in the world, but he could still win you games.
If Poles trades both the top pick and Fields, he will have great draft picks to use not only this year but also in the upcoming drafts. From last year's trade, he will still own a draft pick through 2025. He can load up even more and use those picks to add depth or trade them for veterans. At any case, the roster will be strong for years to come.
Additionally, having a strong roster surrounding him would be perfect for McCarthy. He could do the same job he did at Michigan -- make the right play choices and win games. He might not grab all the attention, but he will win you a lot of games. and come up big in big situations.
Jayden Daniels, LSU
This is an interesting case. For many who don't feel Williams is the top of this class, they point out to Jayden Daniels as being the one. They argue he has all of the skills Williams has and he can run like Fields. Furthermore, he was the best quarterback playing in the best conference in the nation, the SEC.
Daniels is the type of quarterback who works hard to improve every year. Early in his career, he had a problem with turnovers. He came back and had the lowest turnover percentage of his career. He also had one of the lowest turnover-worthy plays in the nation. In 2022, he had trouble handling pressure and getting the ball downfield. In 2023, he played superbly under pressure and at a career-best level throwing downfield.
Taking instruction and acknowledging his deficiencies, then working hard to improve on them, is an invaluable skill. Teams see that and would love to have him.
One of the criticisms of Fields is his inability to read defenses. Daniels is different there. He receives praise for his ability to read defenses quickly and look off defenders. He makes precise passes and puts the ball where only the receiver can make the play.
Daniels culminated his college career by winning the Heisman Trophy. He has been rising every season and is ready to take his skills to the next level. He has already shown that he works hard to improve every year. If Poles does decide to eschew both Williams and Fields, Daniels would be a great choice.