Should the Chicago Bears draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, or should they stick with Justin Fields for another year and use their high first-round picks on assets that will help him become a superstar?
It's the question that will dominate (maybe infect is more appropriate) the Bears' offseason discourse. In fact, it's already started.
It's hard not to have the conversation about the Bears' quarterback situation after Week 15's likely season-ending loss to the Cleveland Browns. Fields was OK; he was solid; he was unspectacular, sans his touchdown pass to Cole Kmet.
He was also outplayed by 38-year-old Joe Flacco.
Sure, there are plenty of plays and other factors during the Browns game that Justin Fields supporters can point to as evidence of the loss not being his fault.
Robert Tonyan's drop?
Darnell Mooney's drop?
Running backs forgetting how to pass protect?
Matt Eberflus forgetting how to call plays?
Luke Getsy still being employed by the Bears?
But Fields has also played 37 games in his pro career. At some point, we can't make excuses for him anymore. And if he's a product of the worst possible environment for a young quarterback? Well, that's simply bad luck.
The Chicago Bears can't chase what Fields could've been; they have to make whatever decision is in the best interest of the franchise in 2024 and beyond.
According to cornerback Jaylon Johnson, that decision is clear: Bears players are sticking with Justin Fields, and that matters. General manager Ryan Poles is building a quality roster and locker room. Perhaps that roster's support of Fields will influence his decision at quarterback.
"He's our quarterback," Johnson said during an appearance on 670 The Score. "We believe in Justin; we've seen Justin play at a high level. It's not like we have a quarterback that we just see and just like, 'Nah, he's not it.'"
Johnson acknowledged that the outside noise, the debate over the Chicago Bears quarterback situation, is beginning to seep into the locker room. Maybe it's a good thing. As Johnson noted, it's unifying the team.
"We're only going to gel closer together," he said. "We're only going to defend him, we're only going to pump him up, we're only going to put what we have into him. He's our guy. He's the guy that leads us, and he's the guy that makes plays."
But is Justin Fields capable of making as many big plays as Caleb Williams or Drake Maye? Johnson doesn't seem to care, nor does he want the Bears beat to bring that conversation to him and his teammates.
"We know what the talks are. With the No. 1 pick, normally you choose a quarterback ... we know what the talks are.
"Ya'll need to keep that on Twitter, keep that on social media, but don't bring that into our locker room and try to project what you guys are thinking on us and try to create a story."
The elephant in the room, of course, is whether Johnson will even be in the Chicago Bears locker room next year. It's great that he's a team guy and a Justin Fields guy right now, but if Poles doesn't pay him the contract he's looking for this offseason, will his opinion in December have any relevance by April?
Probably not. But, for now, Johnson is speaking on behalf of his teammates. And it's pretty clear where they stand.
"We're feeling Justin is our guy."