Former Player Just Made A Bold Justin Fields Declaration

Justin Fields has had a season nobody expected. With the offensive line and wide receivers the Chicago Bears began the season with, most experts wondered if the young quarterback could even survive, let alone thrive. Things didn't start well. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns in his first four games, struggling to complete passes. Then things began to shift. Over his last ten starts, Fields has completed almost 66% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. He's also rushed for 1,011 yards and eight touchdowns. There is no denying he's been the best player on the team.

Expectations for him have skyrocketed in the past few months. People suddenly see how good he is and what he can become if the Bears bring in more help. The sky is truly the limit. One person that is quite confident of how good Fields will be is Darius Butler. The former quarterback played nine years in the NFL. He was teammates with Tom Brady, Cam Newton, and Andrew Luck. So he's seen what the good ones look like. That is what made his bold prediction on the Pat McAfee Show so interesting.

Justin Fields is already reaching a tier few Bears QBs have.

Saying he will be the best in team history isn't exactly a high bar to clear. Jim McMahon was a winner in the 1980s, but his numbers never stood out. Jay Cutler has decent stats and had a couple of really good seasons but was marred by inconsistency. That leaves Sid Luckman. The Hall of Famer was brilliant in his era, winning four championships and posting impressive passing numbers for that time. Fields isn't exactly fighting through the shadow of a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Joe Montana. Still, it's encouraging to hear such confidence in his future.

His progress as a passer is the biggest story. The numbers won't tell the story. When reviewing the tape, it's impressive how much better Justin Fields has become at reading coverages and getting the ball out fast. He simply doesn't have the receiving corps to take that next step. Everybody is hurt or not good enough. The offensive line is banged up too. Until those areas are fixed, we won't see what Fields can truly be. That is why the 2023 off-season is vital to the Bears' long-term plans.