Heading into next season one of the biggest questions to be answered around the league is what former Ohio State star quarterback Justin Fields can do this year.
After being a two-time offensive Big Ten player of the Year for the Buckeyes, the Chicago Bears traded up to No. 11 overall in the 2021 NFL draft to secure Fields.
Fields’ rookie season was shaky as he started 10 games and finished with just seven passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Fields really stepped up his play last year, especially in the second half of the season showcasing his rushing ability. His 1,145 rushing yards in 15 games was the second most in NFL history for a quarterback only behind Lamar Jackson’s 1,206 rushing yards in 2019.
Fields showcased to the Bears organization and fans that he is the quarterback of the future. Chicago showed trust in him when it passed on a chance to draft a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft in favor of trading down.
Justin Fields is my quarterback.#Bears #BearDown #DaBears #NFL #thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/4ocGr3WojA
— The Sick Podcast with Adam Rank (@sickpodadamrank) July 25, 2023
The expectations and excitement around Fields for next season are high. This is evidenced by Touchdown Wire’s Natalie Miller’s ranking of all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL for next season. In it, Miller ranks Fields No. 14.
“One of the most explosive playmakers in the league last year, Justin Fields took the league by storm during the 2023 season, and while it was a bit underplayed teams need to start paying attention,” wrote Miller. “While his record was abysmal as a starter, there weren’t many defenses that could do anything to stop his ridiculous offensive production. With additional talent added to the Chicago roster, the sky is the limit for Fields.”
The Bears have failed at giving Fields sufficient weapons to work with in the passing game in his first two seasons. However, after trading for D.J. Moore, the Bears now have a true WR1 in this offense.
The addition of Moore changes the landscape of the Bears’ wide receiver unit as complimentary weapons such as Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and Equanimeous St. Brown won’t be asked to do as much and can excel in WR2 or WR3 type of roles.
With an improved wide receiver unit, a solid tight end in Cole Kmet, and a good offensive line, Fields has the offensive supporting cast to take a step as a passer and solidify himself as a star in this league.
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