Chase Daniel Offers Frank Insights on the Justin Fields Trade and Caleb Williams
Former Bears quarterback Chase Daniel appeared on NBC Sports Chicago's "Football Night in Chicago" on Tuesday, offering his insights on the Justin Fields trade and the potential of Caleb Williams.
Daniel, a staunch supporter of Fields, had hoped the Bears would retain Fields and leverage the No. 1 pick to build a strong team around him. He believed that Fields would have thrived in the environment that GM Ryan Poles and the Bears had cultivated during the offseason.
"I feel like he would've gotten even better with the pieces that are being put around the No. 1 pick," Daniel expressed. "He became more comfortable in the pocket, processed things at a higher rate, and gained the trust of the locker room and the city."
Fields had garnered immense respect and admiration from his teammates and fans alike, with his work ethic, leadership, and toughness resonating throughout the organization. Daniel acknowledged that Fields would likely have continued to improve with the notable additions to the Bears' roster, including Keenan Allen, De'Andre Swift, and Gerald Everett.
However, the Bears ultimately traded Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick, a move Daniel deemed as undervaluing Fields' worth. He questioned the timing of the trade, suggesting that the Bears could have garnered a higher return had they waited until later in the season.
Despite reports of other teams offering assets for Fields, he ultimately landed in Pittsburgh at his request, leading to a compromised return for the Bears. Daniel acknowledged the difficulty in reconciling Fields' presence with the potential drafting of another quarterback, given his established rapport with the team.
While the trade opened the door for the Bears to potentially draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, Daniel emphasized the need for Williams to perform well immediately given the strong supporting cast surrounding him.
"I do think the pieces around him are probably the best he's had," Daniel commented. "This is easily the top in terms of players surrounding him, staff, and defense. So he better play well right away."
Daniel's insights shed light on the complexities of the Bears' decision-making process and the expectations surrounding Williams as he potentially steps into a pivotal role for the team.
| POLL | ||
21 MARS | 158 ANSWERS Chase Daniel Offers Frank Insights on the Justin Fields Trade and Caleb Williams Will Caleb Williams be a good QB in the NFL? | ||
| yes | 103 | 65.2 % |
| NO | 55 | 34.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
