Bears Leaning Toward Drafting QB, Trading Justin Fields?
A have of GMs said final week the Bears’ choice between marking up for another year of Justin Areas or exchanging their current starter and committing to a quarterback at No. 1 generally would not be particularly troublesome.
No announcements have risen for Chicago however, but signs are indicating toward the revamping group beginning over at QB.
On the off chance that the Jaguars near out the season within the NFL’s storm cellar to secure the Bears the No. 1 in general choose, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan shows Chicago will not be anticipated to pass on Caleb Williams.
Seen by most as the top accessible quarterback within the 2024 prospect pool (in spite of not having pronounced however), Williams will be the favorite to go to begin with by and large in April.
This report checks in as another checkmark within the “trade Areas, draft his replacement” column. Earlier to Areas returning from his thumb damage and starting what measured to a seven-game try out, the Bears were accepted to be inclining in this heading.
At that point again, an following report pointed to the group still having sufficient conviction within the Ryan Pace-era speculation it would take an amazing prospect to persuade GM Ryan Posts to safeguard on his current QB. Williams may conclusion up being that, and Shafts passing on a QB at No. 1 generally in two straight a long time could be a bit troublesome to imagine.
Two NFL execs see Williams as a player who would have been chosen before Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud in this year’s draft, with one of those staffers (through SI.com’s Albert Breer) showing as it were Trevor Lawrence has been distant better;a much better;a higher;a stronger;an improved”>a distant better QB prospect than the USC ability over the past three drafts.
Whereas the most recent Lincoln Riley-developed QB prospect did not match his Heisman-winning sophomore year, he is still viewed as a top-tier prospect. For a Bears administration that did not draft Areas, it’ll be tempting to retool around a rookie with a better ceiling.
The Bears would got to make a call on Fields’ fifth-year choice by May, but in case they are to exchange the 2021 first-rounder, it’ll be another team’s obligation to work out the choice. The Planes continued this way in 2021, exchanging Sam Darnold to the Jaguars, who expeditiously picked up his fifth-year choice.
Williams coming to the Blustery City would provide the group three more a long time of taken a toll certainty at the position. With the Bears still modifying beneath Shafts, it would certainly make sense for the group to reboot to permit for extra program reinforcing around a rookie contract.
Areas has appeared flashes of high-end ability, in spite of the fact that much of the Ohio State alum’s offer comes from his notable blessings within the run amusement. Areas made a run at Lamar Jackson‘s single-season QB hurrying record final year but appeared clear imperfections as a passer.
The Bears’ endeavor to prepare Areas with more offer assistance driven to the D.J. Moore exchange, which gave the Pumas this year’s best choose. QBR still positions Areas within the foot quartile, opening him 23rd out of 29 qualified passers this season. The dual-threat QB has raised his completion rate marginally from 2022 (to 61.4%), but it has come with a lower yards per attempt (6.7, which also positions 23rd within the NFL).
Moving parts still exist here. Not one or the other Posts nor HC Matt Eberflus are locks to return in 2024, in spite of the fact that the previous could be a way better wagered to remain in put, with new president Kevin Warren using impact presently. Williams is anticipated to pronounce before long, but that’s not official.
The Jaguars too must near out the season within the beat draft space; the Loyalists and Cardinals are presently fair one amusement back, at 3-11 each. It is additionally conceivable Drake Maye inspires during the pre-draft handle — to the point he leapfrogs Williams — but the previous Oklahoma select has dwelled in post position for months.
