(Audacy) The Bears will have a decision to make at quarterback once again this offseason. After trading the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers – and passing on the chance to take C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young – the Bears are currently in line to have the top overall selection again. And that means quarterback Justin Fields’ future in Chicago is murky.
On his Audacy original podcast 1st & Pod, 670 The Score afternoon host Danny Parkins explained why he wants the Bears to “take a shot at greatness” by drafting USC quarterback Caleb Williams if they land the No. 1 overall pick.
“The Cubs fired David Ross, a good manager, to hire Craig Counsell, a perceived great manager," Parkins said (41:20 in the player above). "Justin Fields is a starting NFL quarterback. Caleb Williams has a chance to be great. Justin Fields maybe could be great. Maybe. But he still runs a lot. He still takes too many sacks. There’s a risk there.”
In his third NFL season, Fields has thrown for 1,810 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games this season. He has also rushed for 458 yards and two touchdowns.
Fields has certainly shown flashes, but Parkins believes Williams' upside is too high to pass up.
“I think you have to take the shot at greatness if you want a shot at winning for a decade consistently in the NFL,” Parkins said. “I will always shoot for greatness at that position because there is no modern NFL team that has been carried by a defense to a dynasty. It just doesn’t happen. And I want a dynasty.”
The Bears will likely land the No. 1 pick because they own the NFL-worst Panthers' first-round selection, and Carolina (1-12) is two games clear of New England (3-10) and Arizona (3-10) in the race to the bottom.. Chicago also has its own pick, which is in line to be No. 6 overall as of Friday.
“If the Bears had the fourth and the seventh pick, build around Justin Fields,” Parkins said. “They’re going to get the first pick, so you got to take a shot at greatness.
“And oh yeah, by the way, I don’t think Ryan Poles or anybody would be the guy who passed on C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams for a guy who’s not a sure thing. So I’m just preparing myself for that inevitability.”
If the Bears do move on from Fields in favor of Williams, it could create waves in Chicago among the fan base and the locker room.
“Justin Fields, an 11/10 leader, he is improving," Parkins said. "He’s beloved in the locker room, so there are going to be dudes in that locker room that are pissed that they trade Fields for Caleb. It’s a very tough spot, man. Honestly, and I know I’m biased being here, other than teams that can win the Super Bowl, to me it’s the most interesting story in the NFL.”