CJ Stroud takes shot at Bears over Justin Fields decision

It appears everyone has an opinion about what the Chicago Bears should do at quarterback, including Houston Texans Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud.

Stroud was asked whether he thinks the Bears should stick with Fields in 2024, and his answer was… brutally honest.

“They should if they’re smart, but you know…”

Stroud’s answer trailed off, allowing the interviewer to say, “… it’s the Bears.”

“You said it, not me,” Stroud said.

C.J. Stroud was asked if the Bears should stick with Fields next season ??

His response: “They should if they’re smart but you know…”

: @DrakeMayeMVPpic.twitter.com/V10i5d9oUK

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 20, 2024

Ok, I get it. Stroud is an Ohio State guy, and his relationship with Justin Fields is well-documented. They’re good friends, and good friends have each others’ back, right?

But the unabashed Fields support is getting a little ridiculous to me. Caleb Williams is an incredibly talented quarterback, and Stroud knows that. DJ Moore knows that. Jaquan Brisker knows that.

And it appears they’ll soon have to acknowledge it with rumors that the Chicago Bears will have the parameters of a Fields trade in place by the end of the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Bears (deservedly) have the reputation of the franchise where quarterbacks go to die. Whether it was Jay Cutler, or Mitch Trubisky, or now Justin Fields, the jokes write themselves. But the Fields story feels different, it feels like Fields is viewed as a player who’s already achieved high levels of success in the NFL and that Chicago is somehow botching this decision because of how good he’s proven to be.

But that’s just not reality. Fields has flashed brilliance, he’s brought us all to our feet. But he hasn’t been consistently brilliant or even consistently good. The Chicago Bears aren’t botching this decision if they trade him and bet on Caleb Williams. Instead, they’re swinging for a home run after hitting what appears like a solid single — maybe a double — on Justin Fields.

Ironically, the Bears don’t want to make the same mistake they made in 2023 when they passed on CJ Stroud for Fields.