The Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, which puts them in a prime position to trade back and acquire additional compensation.
But there are some who believe the Bears should stay put at first overall and select a quarterback. Never mind the fact that Justin Fields is coming off an impressive season, where he emerged as one of the league’s most electrifying players despite having nothing around him on offense.
There’s been no indication that Chicago is even considering selecting a quarterback. In fact, GM Ryan Poles said he’d have to be “absolutely blown away” for that to happen.
When looking at this year’s quarterback class — Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis — would any of them fit the bill?
According to ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper, they wouldn’t rank higher than Fields if he were in the same draft class.
“He’d be number one,” Kiper said on ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy.
Fields is coming off an impressive second season, where he emerged as one of the league’s best mobile quarterbacks. Fields made opposing defenses pay with his elite speed and athleticism. He rushed for 1,143 yards on the year, falling just 64 yards shy of Lamar Jackson’s single-season rushing record.
Sure, Fields has some work to do in terms of the passing game, as both Poles and Fields admitted. But the Bears have seen enough from Fields to move forward with him as their franchise QB.
“I had Justin [Fields] right behind Trevor Lawrence,” Kiper said. “I love Justin Fields coming out now. His passing and all the things we know have to be improved upon. He knows that they got to get better players around him. But, as a dual-threat quarterback who brings that great skill set and can be an elite quarterback. He’s shown that. He’s made the strides he’s developed and he’s progressed.
“So I would say they got to feel pretty good where they are.”
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Story originally appeared on Bears Wire