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The problem with that line of thinking is that you PROBABLY aren't getting the #1 pick again, which is the best spot as you can literally pick any QB you want. And even if you happen to trade with the team that happens to have the worst record again, you PROBABLY aren't getting a prospect as good as Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. That's not to say you can't pick at 10 and get a QB better than those guys become, but your margin for error decreases the further down you go in the draft and the lesser heralded you go down the prospect tiers.

The thing about 3 is that the Harrison Jr. thing is probably the worst thing that can happen. He's phenomenal. This has nothing to do with how good Harrison is. But it would be very stupid for the Bears to select him at 1, because you either take a QB or you trade to someone who is willing to give you a bunch to take a QB. And unless you trade back only 1 or 2 spots, you aren't getting MHJ. And the issue with trading back 1 or 2 spots is that you probably aren't getting the huge trade package you want from one of those teams. I don't think you get a future 1 or recoup the 2nd from the Sweat trade from the 2nd or 3rd spot, unless the team at 3 is extremely desperate and absolutely HAS to have Williams or Maye and nobody else will suffice, and IDK if anyone is really that desperate.

I don't think we should get to the place where we assume a good situation (which the Bears should be) is the end-all, be-all though. Some QBs just can't play or just can't play well enough right away. Fields came to a team that made the playoffs with Trubisky. Kenny Pickett went to a solid Steelers team. Guys like Lamar, Mahomes and Hurts went to great situations, but sat for most of their rookie years. Situations matter, but it won't make a guy significantly better than he actually is.

I don't think you can have Fields and a #1 pick on a team together. Just a huge distraction and a locker room issue. And I don't think you can discount Bagent in this situation. Bagent is very likely nothing, but he's not nothing yet. If you have to start him a bit, he's shown he won't embarrass the team. And I don't understand the sentiment that Fields will lead this team to 10 wins, when he's not been a top 20 QB in the league yet, but a rookie cannot who likely will come in with pretty solid base level passing ability? I mean, I agree with that sentiment, LOL based on continuity and so forth, but drafting a QB or keeping Fields is 100% about beyond 2024, not about 2024 itself. That's why the decision is so tough. Do you build on a couple breakdowns away from a 7-game win streak or do you take a potential step back to go to the level you want to ultimately be at. You can't give up a chance for an elite level QB for the hope of competing in 2024. Fields "probably" gives you a better chance to compete in 2024, but he doesn't "definitely" give you a better chance.

I think you could see all 6 of those guys (Williams, Maye, Daniels, McCarthy, Penix, Nix) all go in the 1st round. You have 9 teams (10 picks, w/ the Bears 2) in the top 14 that need a QB, at the very least, after 2024. That is including teams like the Jets (Rodgers 40) and Vikings (Cousins FA), but NOT including teams like NYG, Arizona, and Tennessee who probably won't take QBs but probably should consider. But then you have playoff or contending teams that could grab a QB for competition for their iffy or aging guy (Detroit, Rams, Tampa, Pittsburgh). Then there's those teams that miss out in Round 1, potentially trading up into round 2 for a guy. So, I think it's definitely a chance we could get 6 Day 1 QBs

NE doesn't really have that history of trading up. Of course, they haven't been this desperate for a QB since they had #1 and drafted Drew Bledsoe like 25 years ago. And rumors are they won't have Belichick who is the guy that has been in charge for those non-desperate decisions.

Weird as it sounds, the Bears really don't have a TON of needs to the point where they can use 3 extra early picks without diminishing returns. If you're keeping Fields, you're probably bringing back Jaylon Johnson and don't need to add CB at all as all currently on the roster would be under contract next year. Same for LB with the top 4 guys under contract. I don't think you can take multiple early round pass catchers as you don't have enough footballs to go around. A top WR and Bowers or something would be awesome, but DJ and Kmet are still going to be the primary targets. It's a pretty weak RB class so you probably aren't drafting one of them early. You can only draft so many OL and DL, plus there's free agency before the draft. FWIW, those wanting to draft a LT...Braxton Jones allowed 1 pressure in 40 snaps Sunday. Ryan Poles simply just isn't going to replace him with a top 10 pick. Maybe I'm wrong, but Jones was the only addition to a bad OL, thrown right in at LT. Play decently as a rookie, improve as a 2nd year player and has never been given an inkling of competition for his spot.

Last year, an up-and-coming NFC North team started off the season 1-5, before putting together a strong back half of the season. There was a lot of positivity surrounding this team. They had a lot of young talent. They made a trade that put them in a sweet spot with multiple 1st round picks including a pick that would wind up being top 6 from the trade. The young upstart team was eliminated from the playoffs despite a win in Week 17, but had unfinished business for the season. They wanted to beat their division rival and perennial bully and keep them out of the playoffs. And they had to do it on their bully's home turf. That team won, stuck with their QB many thought was not good enough and didn't make a move to get one of the top QBs in the draft. They went on to load up the team on draft picks and the team won the division the next year in almost easy fashion.

Well yeah. But yesterday, he did the routine stuff we want to see. He threw on time for the most part, consistently accurate, and threw with anticipation to guys who were "NFL open". And he still had the moments of brilliance with his legs. And the only negative play was before the 2 minute warning when Tyson Bagent should have been in that game anyway.

It's the Bears. Whatever move they make will come back and haunt them. At least, moving on from Fields has a ton of logic supporting it, which would at least be a new thing. Only conclusion you can come to on those stats is how little he threw the ball last year, Almost 40 more throws this year in 3 fewer games. I'd honestly say that last year didn't really do much for him either way, but allow him to discover his legs are a real weapon. He just simply didn't throw the ball much last year and when he did, he had nobody to throw to. That being said, yesterday was the only game where I was like, "ok maybe you can expect some more development with another weapon and a better OC". But it's hard to base anything off of game 39 in his career and game 39 only. LOL. I made a big deal in this thread about him throwing for 250 yesterday, because that's kind of the sweet spot for real NFL QBs. Justin has had 4 career one-off games over 280 passing against terribly performing defenses (except Pittsburgh as a rookie, that was a legit performance). But that was just his 2nd in that sweet spot of 240-270 yards. 14 QBs average 240 passing a game and he hasn't shown the consistency to meet that top half of the league baseline. And outside of the few really neutered game plans at times last year, he's had every opportunity but missed them due to not pulling the trigger or getting thru his reads fast enough. One more game like this would go a long way to making me feel better about keeping him, but it's not the preferred move either way.

Oh duh, they played each other today.

At the beginning of the year, reasonable Bears fans were hoping for a season similar to the 2022 Lions. Well, the Bears have a chance to end the season very similarly to the Lions. 2022 Lions started out 1-6 got people talking about playoff scenarios then got eliminated Week 17. They also had the Packers Week 18 in a win-and-in scenario @ Green Bay. 2023 Bears started 1-5, got people talking about playoff scenarios and will probably be eliminated in a few hours. They have the Packers Week 18 in Green Bay

They'd be 8-8 already tied with the Saints and Bucs, but NO and TB play next week, so the Bears would be able to win and be in as the loser of that game would definitely be out.

Man, I bet the Bears would love those three 90% win probability games back now. The Detroit one in particular would give them the needed tiebreakers vs. Minnesota and Green Bay.

This is what I predicted. Michigan being in the playoff will get McCarthy big time exposure. I think people are giving him a pass for the last month. He had a thumb injury or something and no Harbaugh so they didn't let him throw at all. So I think these projections assume his health, a wide open gameplan and a good showing against a tough Bama team, maybe even a win and championship encore.

Tyler Scott gives 0 fucks about this.

Nope. Big brain Flus. Actually forced them to use 2 timeouts this half. One on a 4th down they clearly were never going to go for. Now on this challenge. That's why he's the coach of the future!

0% chance to not get sacked on that play. Literally an impossible play

Feels really important for Fields to get to 250 yards today. 166 at half. Needs to keep it up. We've seen him have good halves before and end up with 30 second half yard.

LOL. So conflicting ain't it?

This is better than Washington to me. That was a glorified 7-on-7 the way their DBs stunk so bad. This is actually a solid defense that hasn't had terrible coverage. He's throwing the ball on time, accurately, and with anticipation.

FWIW, Fields has been strong in the straight dropback game. I hate that misdirection screen call on 1st down. I also hate the inside run on 2nd and 10. Getsy giveth and taketh away.

Definitely had nothing to do with the cold wet grass getting snowed on that was reported as being slippery outside the numbers between the 35s before the game

Hell yeah, Velus needs to be a full on RB

That was the best Fields has thrown the ball on any drive all season.