JUST IN: Bears Name New QB To Replace Justin Fields at QB amid Future Uncertainty

The post Bears mock draft: Justin Fields is replaced at quarterback by Caleb Williams first aired on NBC Sports Chicago.

The Bears remain in control of the No. 1 overall pick, even though the Panthers defeated the Falcons in Week 15. The Panthers’ 2-13 record is still the poorest in the league. However, there remain unanswered questions concerning what the Bears should do in the event that they are selected first overall for a second consecutive season. Should they proceed with Justin Fields and give it up for the second time in a row? Or should they get a new franchise quarterback and start over from scratch with their rebuild?

 

It’s becoming increasingly obvious that something needs to happen on that side of the ball as the offense struggles to score points. We’re going to look at a scenario in which General Manager Ryan Poles decides a change under center is required in this mock selection.

As always, the purpose of our mock draft is not to guess what the Bears will actually do when they return to the War Room for the upcoming offseason. That isn’t feasible. It’s also not intended to be a suggestion for what the Bears ought to do. We’re using our mock draft as a chance to learn more about some of the intriguing college players this year and how they might fit in Chicago.

First: Quarterback: Caleb Williams – USC
Ryan Poles gave up on selecting a new quarterback the previous season and exchanged the first pick for DJ Moore and a plethora of other draft picks. But he can’t pass up the chance to bring in another young, gifted quarterback.

There are good reasons to think Justin Fields can be a successful NFL quarterback, but the Bears aren’t nearly ready to compete for Super Bowls just yet, and he’ll need to sign a big contract shortly. Poles decides to give the Bears greater room to win with a young quarterback by trading Fields, selecting Williams, and selecting Williams.

Fields offers the same big-play potential to the offense as Williams does. He can score with his legs, has a superb deep ball, and his off-script improvisations can turn failed plays into huge advantages. Williams has had nine fumblaes this season due to ball security difficulties, but overall in his career, he has handled the football quite well. He’s also a proficient passer of timing and rhythm. He is among the most highly-touted quarterback prospects since the release of Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow in 2020 and 2021, for a reason.