CHICAGO — Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pauls was the Chiefs' director of college scouting when Kansas City drafted quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, but he sat out for a year. He learned behind veteran starter Alex Smith. Poles know that mechanics can work.
But that wasn't what he was facing with the Bears.
Instead of having a proven starter like Smith, the Bears enter Justin Fields' fourth year with questionable development. Add a No. 1 pick like USC quarterback Caleb Williams into the mix, even if it's just for offseason workouts and training camp, and the situation becomes unsustainable, or at least for both players. It could have been awkward. Several Bears players have expressed strong support for Fields recently, so the potential for discord in the locker room had to be considered.
The Poles avoided that scenario on Saturday night by trading Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick. If Fields plays 51% of the offensive snaps this season, that pick will become a fourth-round pick.
“That's impossible. [have both on the roster]'' an NFL assistant coach told ESPN before the trade. “The league called Chicago’s bluff and won.
“They're not getting anything. [Fields], and you just have to let him go. ”
Obviously, that was not the compensation the Poles had originally sought. A person familiar with the team's plans told ESPN that the Bears were initially eyeing a second-day draft pick and a conditional pick in late 2025. Six teams, including Pittsburgh, made various offers, most of which envisioned Fields as a backup.
Fields' market was shrinking due to a series of QB activities. After failing to move Fields before the start of free agency, multiple NFL front office sources told ESPN that Chicago's best chance of getting the compensation it wants, or close to it, is for the team to move the quarterback. He said he believed it was a case of missing. I was hoping to get drafted in April.
The Poles also could have waited until the beginning of the season and brought that team into trade talks when the starting quarterback was injured.
But when the Pole said during the February combine that he “wanted to do the right thing” with Fields, that meant not putting him through a long grace period before being disciplined. It also means not shipping him to a team with a young starting QB, and the Steelers met that criteria after signing Russell Wilson to a one-year deal.
“We have had multiple trade negotiations in recent weeks and believe that trading Justin to Pittsburgh is in the best interest of both Justin and the Bears at this time,” Polish said in a statement. “…We spoke to Justin and informed him about this trade and the rationale behind it as a club.
“We would like to thank him for his tireless dedication, leadership and all that he has poured into our franchise and community over the past three years. And we wish him the best of luck for a long and successful NFL career.” Masu.”
In a social media post Saturday, Fields thanked the Bears and the city of Chicago “for the opportunity to be a part of such a historic franchise.”
It meant a lot to the Polish player that he was able to part ways with Fields, who was drafted by GM Ryan Pace in 2021, on good terms. That might not have been the case if he had kept Fields and drafted Williams.
Additionally, the Poles want to put their new quarterback in the best position to succeed, and as discussed at the combine, there are many factors to consider.
“What's the infrastructure like?” he said. “What's around the player? I think that's the key.”
Chicago has a roster ready to compete around the rookie quarterback the Bears draft.
Recently acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen joins wide receiver DJ Moore as the only teammates in the NFL with at least 90 receptions and 1,200 yards in 2023. The offensive line is improving after the Bears upgraded their backfield with D'Andre Swift, added Gerald Everett to the tight end room, and a potential starter at center in Coleman Shelton. Chicago's young defense is loaded with talent, from defensive end Montez Sweat to cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
By establishing a clear role for the soon-to-be new QB1, the Polish will be able to slot in between two veteran quarterbacks in Andy Dalton and Nick Foles, much like the team did when they traded up and drafted Fields. Caught in the middle and cut off from the way the organization operated in the past. –They were reluctant to hand over their jobs to newcomers.
There will be no uncertainty as to who the Bears' starting quarterback will be after the first round of the draft on April 25th. The only question is how much of an upgrade he will be over Fields.