The Chicago Bears are faced with an amazing dilemma.
On the one hand, they already have Justin Fields, a young and exciting quarterback who the Bears drafted in the first round three seasons ago and who has shown flashes of superstar potential.
However, they presently have the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, giving them the chance to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who is regarded by many as a generational talent.
Do they decide to stick with Fields as their franchise quarterback and continue to surround him with the first pick? Or do they begin with a high-ceiling rookie and start over at the most crucial position in the game?
I just had a conversation about the situation and the direction Chicago should take with Bryan Perez of Bears Talk:
In Chicago sports, we are living through a crisis, to use a phrase from the opening crawl of Star Wars.
The five Big Four sports clubs in the Windy City have made a total of six postseason appearances in the 2020s, a decade that is almost halfway done. The only thing that has saved the city is the Chicago Sky’s 2021 WNBA title; four of those occurred in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chicago Bears, who own the first choice in the NFL draft, have a decision that might change the course of the franchise this summer. Regarding the Bears’ decision to stick with quarterback Justin Fields or select a new signal-caller, like USC quarterback Caleb Williams, everyone in Chicago has an opinion.
Former Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher, a Hall of Famer, offered his perspective on the discussion on Friday.
Urlacher said to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, “I think if people are still asking if Justin is the guy, he’s probably not the guy,” at this time. “Yes? They’re still asking, “Hey, is he gonna be our guy?” after three years.
Fields has thrown 40 touchdowns versus 30 interceptions in 40 games in his career. The Bears haven’t made it to the postseason since ’20, and he has yet to lead them there.
“There’s a pretty good player sitting there as well—at least he was in college—in Caleb Williams,” Urlacher stated. “In my opinion, they probably have to draft a kid.”