The Chicago Bears currently own the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, leaving them with an intriguing dilemma: Do they spend the pick on a new franchise quarterback, or use the selection to keep building around Justin Fields?
Resetting at quarterback would make some financial sense for the Bears, as they could restart the clock on a rookie contract with a new passer instead of Fields, who will be up for a long-term contract extension soon.
The Bears also have no shortage of worthy candidates for that top pick, as USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and even LSU’s Jayden Daniels could make a strong case for the No. 1 spot.
Takin a quarterback at No. 1 would also free the Bears up to trade Fields to another QB-needy team, allowing them to add more draft assets with which to build around their new franchise passer.
What could a Fields trade look like? Falcons writer Scott Carasik threw out an interesting three-team scenario that involves the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals:
This deal would land the Bears a pair of Day 2 picks split between this year’s and next year’s drafts, while the Falcons get Fields for the price of dropping down 10 spots in the first round this year, along with the possibility of a conditional third-round pick in 2025. The Bengals give up a second-rounder (and the same potential conditional pick in 2025, depending on the scenario) in return for jumping up into the top 10.
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