What to make of Kevin Warren’s comments about Justin Fields

Chicago Bears team president Kevin Warren sat down for an interview with WGN’s Jarrett Payton this week and shared an opinion about Justin Fields that has the Bears fanbase buzzing.

Unless you’ve been under a rock (or don’t use social media), the quarterback debate among Bears fans — Caleb Williams vs. Justin Fields — has become almost intolerable. There’s no middle ground, you’re either ALL Caleb or ALL Justin, and, honestly, it isn’t fun. A healthy debate about what’s best for the Chicago Bears would be great, the unhealthy attacks and unwarranted insults Bears fans are throwing at each other on X is… on another level.

So, why not have Warren pour some gasoline on the fire?

“Justin has a rare combination of intelligence, of size, of strength and speed,” Warren told Payton. “You forget how big of a man he is until you’re up on him. He’s not a small man. I just think every year, he’s going to continually get better. So I’m glad he’s on the Chicago Bears.”

Let’s focus on that last part: I’m glad he’s on the Chicago Bears.

That certainly doesn’t sound like a team executive who plans to sign off on a Justin Fields trade anytime soon, does it?

I’ve made my quarterback preference pretty clear: I’m in favor of the Bears selecting Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Not only do I think his ceiling is on par with some of the NFL’s current elites, but his floor might just be Fields’ ceiling. That’s not a knock against Fields, instead, it’s more proof of how high I am on Williams.

The business side of this decision matters, too. Williams will reset the Chicago Bears’ quarterback contract clock and begin a five-year window that Poles can use to maximize spending on other positions before the massive second quarterback contract is due.

Fields, meanwhile, is eligible for a contract extension now.

But let’s be honest: it doesn’t matter what I think. Or, what you think. All that matters is what Poles thinks, and at this point in Warren’s tenure with the Bears, we don’t know how much influence he’ll have over Poles or the NFL Draft process.

There’s also a chance Warren is simply being a good businessman. The best way to drive up Justin Fields’ trade value is to act like a team with no intention of trading him. Bluff would-be suitors into making an above-market offer because, hey, the Bears like Fields so much that they’ll just keep him if the right offer doesn’t present itself.

I’d like to think that’s the play here. I can’t imagine Poles not using the first overall pick on a quarterback for the second year in a row, especially not after seeing the success the Houston Texans had with CJ Stroud, whom the Bears could’ve taken had they not traded out of the top pick in 2023.

Caleb Williams is a better quarterback prospect than Stroud was this time last year, and he’s certainly a better prospect than Fields was in 2021. Yes, the Chicago Bears could receive a massive trade offer — maybe the largest in NFL history — for the first pick. And, yes, it could be the kind of offer that rebuilds a roster over two or three years.

But ask yourself this: If another team is willing to mortgage everything to move up for Williams, why not just take him?

At some point, the Bears must find a quarterback who passes the eye test. Who no one has any doubt about his standing as a franchise player. Williams is the closest the Bears have ever come to having that kind of quarterback.

Warren is obviously a Justin Fields fan. We all are. But that doesn’t mean keeping him as QB1 is what’s best for the team. Unless, of course, Ryan Poles thinks so.

What do you think of Kevin Warren’s comments on Justin Fields, Bears fans? Sign up for a free user account and share your opinion in the comments. If you’d like an ad-free Bears Talk and access to our exclusive content, consider leveling up to a premium account for just $3.49/mo or $29.99/yr. We’d love to have you! Bear Down!