(670 The Score) After the Bears landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the conversation surrounding the franchise's future turned to the quarterback position.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields produced a second season filled with promise while also revealing he has room for improvement, but national pundits have already begun to ponder whether general manager Ryan Poles will covet a quarterback at the top of the draft. Though Poles himself admitted Tuesday he'd have to be "absolutely blown away" to consider a quarterback in the first round, there has been curiosity surrounding Fields' future.
For Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, there's no doubt about what his team should do at quarterback this offseason. He hopes the Bears build around Fields rather than seeking his replacement in the draft.
"I almost feel like that's a waste of a draft pick, if you let me tell it," Johnson told the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Thursday afternoon. "I just believe in Justin. In a sense, I don't feel like there's another quarterback in this draft that's better than Justin if you ask me. But I don't know, maybe if somebody else believes there's a savior in this draft class at quarterback – hey, I'm all marbles in, all chips in on Justin. I feel like it's not his abilities. It's more so about what you put around him, the offense you can create with him. That challenges people.
"There are some things he wants to be better at and do better, some things he feels like he didn't do so (well) at. But in terms of pure talent, I feel like he has all the intangibles. I think it's up to this staff to bring the right people around him and also have the right scheme and to believe in him. Even talks like that or whatever is going on in terms of (drafting) a quarterback, that's not going to help him perform any better. It's more so believing in him and then showing through actions of that faith and operating through the building with love.
"If we go all marbles in on Justin, I don't think he'll let us down."
The 23-year-old Fields completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games while adding 60 carries for 1,143 yards and eight rushing scores. He finished 63 yards shy of the single-season rushing record for a quarterback set by Ravens star Lamar Jackson during his MVP campaign in 2019.
The Bears went 3-14 in the 2022 season, losing a franchise-record 10 straight games to close the campaign. Chicago finished with the NFL's top-ranked rushing attack and last-ranked passing offense, the latter of which Fields and the Bears know they must improve on.
"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."
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