LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Bears general manager Ryan Poles believes in the team’s future with quarterback Justin Fields leading the way, he said at a season-ending press conference Tuesday.
Asked if the Bears plan on Fields being under center for the 2023 season, Poles responded “yeah.”
“I’m excited for the direction he’s going,” Poles said.
Poles indicated the Bears are also highly unlikely to consider selecting a quarterback with their No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, though he didn’t completely close the door on that possibility.
"I'd have to be absolutely blown away to make that type of decision," Poles said.
The No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields was inherited by Poles when he was hired as the Bears' general manager last January. Fields completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while adding 160 carries for 1,143 yards and eight rushing scores on the ground. He finished 63 yards shy of the NFL’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback, set by Ravens star Lamar Jackson during his MVP campaign in 2019.
Entering his third NFL season, Fields believes he's in position to lead the Bears forward.
“I feel like it’s already mine,” Fields said Monday. “The guys in here, they know how hard I work, they know what I want to accomplish and just my mindset overall. Really, just trying to get guys on the same page, that mindset, that culture, to where no matter what we go through, nothing can faze us.”
While star defenders like Will Anderson (Alabama) and Jalen Carter (Georgia) represent the top prospects in this 2023 draft class, quarterbacks Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Will Levis (Kentucky) and Anthony Richardson (Florida) are also sure to draw intrigue in the first round.
The Bears sit in a position in which they could trade down in the draft order with a team in need of a quarterback prospect. They hold the leverage in negotiations because of that No. 1 overall pick.
While Poles and the Bears will explore the quarterback prospects in the draft, they're planning to move forward with Fields and their hopes of what's to come.
"We’re excited about his development and where he goes next," Poles said. "He showed ability to be impactful with his legs. There’s flashes with his arm. Now if we can put that together, I think we have something really good.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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