Ryan Poles, the general manager of the Chicago Bears, may be preparing a record haul for the 2024 NFL Draft’s first overall choice.
The NFL Scouting Combine takes place this week in Indianapolis, and it is expected that the direction the Chicago Bears will go with the quarterback situation will be disclosed.
That does not rule out a deal for Justin Fields or the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but as was the case last season when the Bears leaked that they were moving the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, there is a risk that another intentional leak will occur this week.
Unlike last year, the general idea is that the Bears will keep the top selection while dealing Fields. While some NFL insiders anticipate the foundation for Fields’ trade will be completed this week, others believe the opposite is true.
In his Monday Morning Quarterback piece, which functioned as a retrospective of his writing career, the renowned Peter King announced his retirement while also leaving Bears fans with a tidbit.
“I suppose the Bears will trade the top selection. I know nothing, but that appears to be the direction the wind is blowing. What I say: The Bears could (and should) keep Justin Fields, trade the first selection down once or twice, and create the kind of supporting cast required to compete.”
– Peter King, Professional Football Talk.
It’s unclear whether King’s article is opinion-based or if he truly believes there is movement towards the Bears surrendering the first overall pick. King has been a regular guest on Chicago sports radio, where he has been unwavering in his belief that the Bears should trade the choice and rebuild around Fields. However, in terms of “the way the wind blows,” it appears that trading Fields has become the most popular prediction.
Regardless, in his hypothetical scenario, the Bears still have two top-10 picks in the 2024 draft, as well as second-round picks from the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons, for a total of five picks in the first and second rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
This is the type of historic move that would certainly be enough to persuade general manager Ryan Poles to forsake the possibility for greatness with Willians in favour of Fields as the starting quarterback, but it does not appear to be the likely situation.
