The League Is Showing That Justin Fields Is Solely To Blame For His Struggles As A Passer
NFL free agency has been active the past few days, with still no moment involving Bears’ quarterback Justin Fields potentially being traded. Chicago’s offseason has been engulfed with what general manager Ryan Poles will do, whether it is trading Fields, drafting USC quarterback Caleb Wiliams, or trading the first overall selection for a historic haul of draft picks. Despite multiple NFL teams needing a starting signal-caller, those franchises are addressing their needs, showing that the Bears’ starting quarterback has issues that may not be worth the risk.
Fields Struggles Are Being Exposed As His Responsibility Rather Than The Fault Of Others
Through the three years, Fields has been with the Bears, there has been a consistent and fierce debate as to whether or not the franchise has held the quarterback from reaching his top potential. Fans and media members have been critical of front-office members, coaches, and offensive players for the lack of development from the starting signal-caller. Fields, although displaying flashes of elite-level play, has failed to develop as a pocket passer through his first three seasons in the league.
Over the past two years, former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy served as the main culprit for why Fields played poorly due to a complex and uncreative passing offense. Outrage by fans and analysts toward Getsy peaked in late September last year when Chicago’s quarterback blamed coaching for his inept play to begin the 2023 season. Additionally, many wanted head coach Matt Eberflus held accountable for not stepping in to make a change at offensive coordinator.
In January, following the end of the 2023 season, the Bears fired Getsy as their offensive coordinator and hired Shane Waldron a week later. Fans and pundits were surprised when Chicago’s former offensive play-caller began to garner interviews with numerous teams, including the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders. Getsy would later be hired by the Raiders as the franchise’s new offensive coordinator.
Another aspect of why supporters feel others are to blame for Fields’ passing issues is due to the lack of talent at the pass-catching position. Bears’ fans believed that the young quarterback wasn’t given a full compliment of talented wide receivers over the last three years, despite having players like Allen Robinson, Marquise Goodwin, Cole Kmet, and Darnell Mooney. In 2023, Poles acquired wide receiver DJ Moore from Carolina, who went on to have his best season with the Bears, recording 1,364 receiving yards on 96 receptions.
Although Mooney suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2022 and had a terrible season in 2023, recording 414 receiving yards and 31 receptions, he signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday. On Monday, the Falcons signed Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal despite being one of the teams expected to heavily pursue Fields in a trade. Mooney signing a contract for over 30 million dollars, even though he had a dismal year in 2023 following a grave knee injury the year before, shows that Atlanta may believe he can have a bounce-back season.
Fields Passing Struggles Have Been Exposed By Success Of Other Quarterbacks
When wondering why the trade market for Fields has become nonexistent, it is vital to remember what has happened with the Bears when their starting quarterback has been out due to injury. Over the past two seasons, Chicago’s signal-caller has missed six games, in which three other quarterbacks started for the team. Trevor Siemian, Nathan Peterman, and Tyson Bagent started for the Bears and played adequately for a backup signal-caller. The areas where these backups excelled were reading opposing defenses, getting the football out quickly, and not having issues with Getsy’s offensive scheme.
Although Fields is one the most athletically gifted quarterbacks in the league, he has not been able to match the mental aspect of the quarterback position with his physical ability. Chicago’s quarterback consistently had issues getting the ball out and was hesitant to throw, even when pass-catchers were wide open. In four of the Bears’ last six games of 2023, Fields had at least one throw where he missed an open target, resulting in an incomplete pass or an interception.
The mix of others succeeding, along with the lack of success despite having elite-arm strength, appears to be the driving reason why NFL teams are seeing Fields as too much of a gamble to trade for. Older and less talented quarterbacks, such as Cousins, Russell Wilson, Gardner Minshew, Drew Lock, and Sam Darnold, have been signed by the teams expected to have heavily pursued Chicago’s starting signal-caller. Although the Bears’ quarterback is younger and one of the best mobile quarterbacks in the league, it seems teams value pocket-passers more than anything at the quarterback position.
The debate surrounding the Bears’ starting quarterback and who is to blame has been immensely contentious, but over the past two days, it has become clear that the NFL sees Fields to blame more than those around him. If coaching was the reason for their starter’s issues, opposing franchises would be lining up to trade and begin to develop the former first-rounder. The fact that no team is willing to jump on an available former first-round quarterback is alarming, given the hot pursuit for those players over the past 20 years.