BEARS UPDATE : Bears GM Ryan Poles verdict on Trading Justin Fields Now “Clear-Cut Decision” For Chicago Bears,

After the trade, Flaherty never seemed to settle in with the Orioles. He went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 34.1 innings pitched for the Orioles and was demoted to the bullpen by the end of the season. The 27-year-old pitcher will have an interesting bounce-back opportunity in Detroit, as the Tigers, who went 78-84 in 2023, appear ready to take the next step and possibly contend for a postseason spot. If Flaherty can regain his form, Detroit will be able to achieve their goal.

Will the Chicago Bears trade Justin Fields?

The Bears are expected to move on from Fields and select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the upcoming 2024 draft. If that is the case, the 24-year-old will be dealt for draft picks in order to build around the incoming Williams.
Several unnamed NFL general managers were asked about the Bears’ likely path with Fields in a piece by Yahoo! Sports senior NFL reporter Charles Robinson. They appeared to be unanimous in their belief that trading the team’s current starting quarterback was the most likely course of action.

What NFL General Managers Have to Say
They believed that the basic desire for a new general manager to roll with his own people was at the heart of the decision. Ryan Poles, who took over the job in January 2022, inherited the inexperienced Fields and may simply want to bring in his own quarterback to move the team forward.
“Nobody wants to be judged or fired because they didn’t make the previous guy’s draft picks work,” said one NFC GM. “Especially quarterbacks and head coaches, if something isn’t working out or lagging, you should be given the opportunity to change it your way.” Quarterbacks and head coaches are so important to your culture that it’s difficult when you don’t have them.

There’s also the possibility that Poles and the Bears simply don’t want to be associated with the scorn that comes with passing on an overall first-round pick elite prospect quarterback for the second time in a row.

“When you pass on talented quarterbacks to lean into a guy’s development, which the Bears did when they traded No. 1 last year, you have to be completely sure of that decision to do it a second time,” a vice president of football operations said. “They may not have taken C.J. Stroud with the first pick last [offseason], but he was available for them to do so.” Caleb Williams is a no-brainer, and he’ll be there for them if they get the first pick. Sometimes the gamblers continue to pass on them. If Fields fails to break through, you don’t want to be the guys who passed on both Stroud and Caleb Williams.”

Money is another reason why the Chicago Bears trade Justin Fields
Moving on from Justin Fields may also be a financial decision.
If the Bears keep Fields, they will have to decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option for a significant sum of money. That could be the icing on the cake for the decision to trade Fields.

“It just buys you more time and a much cheaper contract to keep adding pieces to build the team,” another NFC general manager said of the Bears’ decision to draft USC’s Caleb Williams with the first overall pick.

“It would be a no-brainer for me to draft Caleb,” an AFC general manager would add. “The fact that we’re in Year 3 and they don’t want to take advantage of the fifth-year option tells me everything I need to know.” Despite his physical gifts, I don’t believe Fields can win consistently as a passer.”

What Would The Chicago Bears Get In Exchange For Justin Fields?
What the GMs questioned felt Field would bring the Bears back in return was somewhat disappointing. Nobody thought he’d bring a first-round pick in return. The most bullish thought he’d get the Bears’ second and fourth round picks. The most pessimistic thought Fields was only worth a third-round pick.