Bears Set Up Their Draft With A Massive Move
In an expected move since the Chicago Bears secured the first overall pick through the Carolina Panthers. The Chicago Bears have traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The trade includes the Bears sending quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in return for a sixth-round pick that will turn into a fourth-round pick if he plays 51% of the snaps.
Fields' Time In Chicago
Justin Fields was selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bears traded up with the New York Giants, giving up Pick 20, a 5th-round pick in 2021, and their 1st and 4th-round picks in 2022.
Justin Fields has emerged as one of the most talented athletes in the league, having accumulated a total of 8,874 yards and 54 touchdowns throughout his three-year career. However, despite his dynamic athleticism, he has faced challenges in developing his passing skills.
His passing yardage stands at just 6,674 yards throughout three seasons. While he has thrown 40 touchdowns, he has also been prone to turnovers, with 30 interceptions and a league-leading 38 fumbles over the same period.
Since being drafted, he's been sacked 135 times, with 44 of those sacks happening during the 2023 season. This puts him as the fifth-most sacked quarterback in the league, behind lower-tier starters Russell Wilson, Zach Wilson, Bryce Young, and Sam Howell.
What's Next For Chicago?
The Chicago Bears have the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, and they have the opportunity to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams. This is a rare situation since most teams picking at number one are teams that struggled the previous season. For instance, the Bengals had the first pick in 2020 when they drafted quarterback Joe Burrow after going 2-14 the prior year.
Similarly, the Jacksonville Jaguars had the first pick in 2021 when they drafted quarterback Trevor Lawrence after a 1-15 season. However, the Bears went 7-10 last season and have a talented roster, which is not typical of teams picking first overall.
The Bears have offensive weapons such as D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and D'Andre Swift for Caleb Williams to target.
Additionally, a young quarterback benefits from the short-field position, and the Bears' defense has improved significantly after the Montez Sweat trade. Before the trade, the Bears were allowing 27.3 points per game, but this number has been cut to 18.2 since his arrival. Furthermore, the defense struggled to get pressure on the quarterback and earn sacks, but Montez Sweat has made history by leading two teams in sacks in the same season.
The Chicago Bears have an opportunity to build a more talented roster with their four remaining draft picks, apart from their first pick. They have the ninth pick and could use it to add a skilled player to support Caleb Williams. Players like Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers could fit the bill. I prefer Nabers, but either would be a good choice.
In summary, it seems to be an exciting time to be a Chicago Bears fan and the future looks bright in the Windy City.
Read More NBA News From Stadium Rant Here: NBA News
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS:
Order your favorite whiskey or spirit for the big game right to your doorstep and use code STADIUMRANT10 for a 10% discount at Caskers
Use code STADIUMRANT20 for a 20% discount at Bulletproof Coffee, SwingJuice and Performix.
If you love to shotgun beers, use code STADIUMRANT10 at Wild Man Drinking Company.
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here.
Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe!