After the Bears secured a 37-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, a fan on X (formerly Twitter) asked Long whether the Bears should stick with Fields or draft a new quarterback.
Long responded, "If I'm the Bears brass, I have to at least see what the offer sheet looks like from some of these teams that are obviously going to be interested in JF. If the offer is good, send it."
He also expressed his belief that Fields could "thrive elsewhere," and the Bears could benefit even more from a trade.
However, if Bears general manager Ryan Poles doesn't find any appealing trade offers for Fields, Long suggests keeping the young QB. Regardless of whether they trade Fields or keep him, Long sees the Bears in a potential "win-win" situation.
Kyle Long Emphasizes the Importance of the Bears' Due Diligence in Considering a Justin Fields Trade
Long was part of the Bears from 2013 to 2019 and frequently shares his thoughts on ways to improve his former team, both on social media and on his podcast, "Green Light With Chris Long," which he co-hosts with his brother Chris, a former star with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bears have won four of their last five games, with Fields playing a significant role in their success. In the victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Fields had a stat line of 20-32 for 268 yards and two total touchdowns (99.5 passer rating).
Fields has shown noticeable improvement as the season progressed, throwing for 1,044 yards, four TDs, and three interceptions (two of which were on Hail Mary plays) in his last five games. He has also taken better care of the ball, not losing a fumble in his last four games.
For these reasons, Long believes that Poles and the Bears' management must explore the level of interest in Fields. If a team is willing to make an attractive offer, the Bears could benefit greatly.
Long added in a subsequent post, "If you don't, at the very least, find out what teams are offering, then you're not doing your due diligence."
The Bears Face a Crucial QB Decision
Chicago secured the No. 1 overall pick from the Carolina Panthers in Week 17, placing them in a pivotal position.
The Bears now face the choice of whether to retain Fields and continue building around him on offense or take a gamble by selecting a quarterback, most likely either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, with the No. 1 pick.
NFL insider Jeremy Fowler mentioned on ESPN's "SportsCenter" on December 30th that Fields' playmaking abilities this year have made the Bears' draft decision challenging.
The outcome of the upcoming season finale against the rival Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field could also influence the decision regarding Fields' future, especially if he delivers a standout performance and leads the team to victory.
POLL | ||
2 JANVIER | 80 ANSWERS Veteran Bears Starter Offers ''Win-Win'' Guidance Regarding a Justin Fields Trade Will the Bears make the playoffs? | ||
yes | 17 | 21.3 % |
no | 63 | 78.8 % |
List of polls |