Ryan Poles elected to give Justin Fields another season under center for the Chicago Bears. Nobody argued the idea. The former 1st round pick had shown flashes of superstardom last season, setting records with his outstanding running ability. It was more than fair he'd earned another year to take that next step as a passer. Poles did everything in his power to help. Wide receiver D.J. Moore arrived via trade from Carolina. Right tackle Darnell Wright became their 10th overall pick in the draft.
Nobody can say he didn't give the quarterback enough help. However, there have also been signs that the GM is ready to move away from Fields as well. They've been subtle, but a closer inspection suggests that Poles not only prepared for the possibility the QB wouldn't progress, but almost as if he expected it.
He doesn't fit the template.
If you don't watch the Bears' annual 1920 Football Drive series on YouTube, you should. They often provide some incredible inside information on how the team operates behind the scenes. One episode covered the pre-draft process. During a specific sequence, the Bears showed a board of every position group, each with a list of critical factors they prioritize in evaluation. Quarterback was notable.
Accuracy and decision-making. In other words, the quarterback must know the right time to pull the trigger and be able to put the ball in the right spot when he does. Fields' decision-making is a huge topic of discussion right now. His horrible tendency to hold the ball too long, even when guys are open, is well-documented. What isn't talked about enough is his accuracy.
Pro Football Reference has a stat category called On-Target Percentage. This covers how many throws a quarterback makes that are deemed accurate. Across three seasons, Fields has ranked 29th, 28th, and 24th in this category. People talk about how good his deep ball is. They don't mention enough how off he can be at the short and intermediate levels.
Ryan Poles' comments before the season.
Shortly before the season kicked off, the GM was asked directly about his expectations for Fields. What did he need to see in order for the quarterbacks to lock down the starting job long-term? Pole was straightforward as always. He pinpointed several key factors that have haunted the quarterback since he arrived in the NFL. All of them needed to be addressed.
“Win more games.”
“Progress. I can’t tell you how many boxes need to be checked. I always think your gut instinct is always going to be a part of decision-making as well. So all of the above. You’re looking for progress to feel good about it and also to watch the tape and get a feel for a guy if he can take you to that next level…
…Just to continue to improve. Want those sack numbers to come down, interceptions to come down. Make good reads, protect himself, just see him take that next step.”
So far, it's not looking good. Fields is 0-2 this season and likely to go 0-3 after visiting Kansas City this weekend. He's also tied for the second-most interceptions through two weeks (3) and second-most sacks taken (10). In other words, the guy hasn't done any of the things Ryan Poles said he needed to.
Stacking of assets for 2024.
The big question mark for many is why Poles didn't pull the trigger on a quarterback when he had the chance. Chicago had the #1 pick. They could've taken any of the top options in the 2023 draft class. The fact is he didn't like the options. Bryce Young had serious size concerns that are already showing up in Carolina. C.J. Stroud takes as many sacks as Fields does. Will Levis isn't even the backup on his current team. It is possible the Bears GM felt he should wait for a year with better options on the table.
Early signs suggest he was smart to wait. Projections have the 2024 draft class stacking up with several potential 1st rounders like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Michael Penix, Riley Leonard, J.J. McCarthy, Shedeur Sanders, and Michael Pratt.
It doesn't end there. Free agency could feature some interesting options like Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield. Chicago is projected to have the second-most cap space in the league. That, along with two 1st round picks, shows that Poles has set the table perfectly for an aggressive push at quarterback next off-season.
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