NFL insider provides massive update on Chicago Bears QB decision

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, a recognized and accomplished NFL insider, provided one of the biggest updates on the Chicago Bears quarterback situation on Saturday, and it’s going to have the Justin Fields segment of the Bears’ fanbase… upset.

“Multiple league sources I spoke to believe the Bears are trying to move on from Justin Fields, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract,” Russini wrote. “The team, which has the No. 1 and 9 picks, appears to be focused on using its first pick to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams.”

This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering the sizable gap between Williams’ upside and Fields’, and that’s not a knock against the former Ohio State star. However, it would be disingenuous to suggest Fields is in the same caliber of natural quarterback ability as Williams, who’s regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects to enter the NFL in the last 20 years.

“Bears decision-makers would like to make the call on Fields’ future before the NFL free agency window, which opens March 13,” Russini continued. “That’s what they prefer, but not necessarily what they will achieve. General manager Ryan Poles openly shared that he wants to “do right” by Fields and understands “no one wants to live in the gray area.”

According to Russini, the Bears spent most of NFL Combine week surveying the market for Justin Fields, and unfortunately for Poles, that market doesn’t appear to be strong. In fact, a Fields trade might come much later than we’re expecting and after the first wave of free-agent quarterbacks get signed.

The Atlanta Falcons remain the team most often linked to Fields, but rumors are beginning to swirl that the Falcons prefer Kirk Cousins and will pursue the veteran in free agency before engaging in serious trade talks with the Chicago Bears.

We could be staring down the barrel of a very real possibility that Caleb Williams and Justin Fields are on the Bears’ roster at the same time.

That’ll be awkward.