Justin Fields progress report: How the Bears QB fared in 7 key areas in 2023 as the team mulls his future
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears face an interesting dilemma at quarterback this offseason. You may have heard.
With the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, general manager Ryan Poles is in an ideal position to reboot. The Bears could choose first from what is widely regarded as an impressive quarterback class, with USC’s Caleb Williams currently the consensus top prospect.
But Poles also could trade the pick for an eye-opening return, then continue building around incumbent starter Justin Fields. Staying the course would carry some complexity with Fields’ contract situation. By May 2, the Bears must decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie deal, which would fully guarantee his 2025 salary — estimated to be in the ballpark of $22 million by overthecap.com.
From there, Bears higher-ups also would have to discuss how much more they’d want to invest in Fields’ future through a possible extension.
In evaluating Fields’ worth
