As soon as the NFL’s negotiation window started on Monday, the quarterback dominoes quickly began to fall.
Falcons star Kirk Cousins
Baker Mayfield, member of the Tampa Bay Bucs
Gardner Minshew of the Raiders of Las Vegas
Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold
Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett from New England
Marcus Mariota — Commanders in Washington
Cleveland Browns player Jameis Winston
Many joined new groups. Conversely, Justin Fields is still the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
There are different ways to interpret why that is the case when the league formally kicks off the 2024 season on Wednesday. It probably also relies on your expectations for the Bears’ quarterback.
However, the commotion of the bargaining window usually leads to a generalized lack of patience. The NFL has a lengthy offseason. Numerous things can and will occur throughout the league. Next Wednesday is quarterback Caleb Williams’ USC pro day. Furthermore, there is still almost a month until the Detroit draft. Let us talk about Fields’ position with the Bears in light of this.
Kevin Fishbain: We don’t know if the possibility of Fields staying with the Bears in 2024 is more or less realistic now than it was a week ago. General manager Ryan Poles has not let us in on the calls he’s made or received, unfortunately. But we can see the landscape. The starting QB jobs that are still available are on teams likely to draft one. That doesn’t mean the Bears couldn’t trade Fields to a team that would slot him as its No. 2, but it does allow us to talk about a scenario I’ve been adamantly confounded by — Fields and a rookie QB on the same team. I still can’t see how or why Fields would be OK with that scenario, and if Poles is going to “do right” by Fields, I’m not sure that’s it. Or, if that does happen, will Fields actually have a chance to start?
Adam Jahns: But are you really surprised Fields wasn’t moved during the first two days of the negotiation window? Coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine, we reported that the trade market wasn’t robust for him. I think everything has played out as expected. If we were setting up those QB dominoes, Cousins, Mayfield, Minshew and potentially other free-agent quarterbacks would be in front of him. And that proved to be the case. The Bears might not be actively shopping Fields — their evaluation of Williams is ongoing — but no team appeared willing to aggressively pursue Fields, either. At least, that’s how it’s played out so far. Poles will have to be patient. I think he’s OK with that.
Fishbain: I never really thought the Falcons would be an option — then again, I didn’t expect Cousins to leave Minnesota, so what do I know? You’re right, though — if a team was interested in Fields as a starter and came to Poles with a second-round pick, or maybe even a third, you would think this would be done. Poles is known to be calculated. He still has the leverage when it comes to Fields, and he can certainly wait until later in free agency or during draft weekend. But let’s play hypotheticals here. I’m still not buying into the idea that the Bears will move forward with Fields as their starter. Can you really see him sharing the locker room with a rookie QB this summer? Is the leverage the Bears have with the opportunity to potentially trade Fields to a QB-needy team later on worth it?
Jahns: It would create a peculiar dynamic for the Bears. One quarterback would return with the backing of his teammates (and some vocal fans), while the other would be there as the handpicked replacement with the support of the front office and coaching staff. Would coach Matt Eberflus want that in his third season? This isn’t the same as signing Mike Glennon and then drafting Mitch Trubisky. I do believe the Bears locker room is in a good place with receiver DJ Moore, tight end Cole Kmet and linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards as leaders. As cornerback Jaylon Johnson said earlier this week, the Bears locker room would be professional and get behind any quarterback. It’s also completely possible Fields and Williams would feel comfortable about coexisting. But the whole scenario could lead to too many unwanted questions and storylines. If you’re Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, do you seriously want that? If you’re moving on with Williams, then move on completely.
Fishbain: Has this quarterback carousel kept the “trade back from No. 1 and roll with Fields” scenario in play? I’m still not sure how surprising the start to free agency has been at quarterback, so I’m less inclined to fully indulge that possibility. But as long as Fields is on the roster, and as long as the Bears continue doing their due diligence on Williams and the rest of the draft class, can it fully be ruled out?
