INDIANAPOLIS (670 The Score) — As the Bears continue their evaluations of the quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft class, one of the best available made the case for Chicago to trust and invest in current quarterback Justin Fields.
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who played with Fields in college, made clear that he isn’t interested in landing with the Bears and perhaps replacing his former teammate.
“I don’t want to go there,” Stroud said Friday at the NFL Combine. “That’s his team.”
The Bears’ “plan right now” is to enter the 2023 with Fields as their starting quarterback, general manager Ryan Poles said Tuesday, but he also acknowledged the team would meet with each top quarterback prospect in Indianapolis. Poles previously stated he’d have to be “absolutely blown away” by a quarterback prospect to utilize their No. 1 overall pick on a player to replace Fields.
Stroud thinks the Bears should use it on anyone except a quarterback, as he’s a big believer in Fields, who completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games last season. Fields also rushed 160 times for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns.
“I feel like the true man’s character is when you get knocked down, how do you get up? He’s gotten up every time,” Stroud said. “He’s stepped up to the plate. He hasn’t blamed anybody. He hasn’t pointed no fingers. That just shows what type of man he is.
“He ain’t no damn running back. He’s a quarterback. He can sling that rock. So, I’m going to stand up for my brother every time. He’s doing to do great things in his career.”
The Bears have met with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young this week. He’s the top quarterback on many analysts’ draft boards.
“A lot of knowledge and wisdom in that room,” Young said of the Bears while adding the meeting went well.
The Bears had the top-ranked rushing offense in the NFL in 2022, setting a franchise record with 3,014 yards on the ground, but their passing game ranked dead last in the league, averaging just 130.5 yards per game through the air. Fields has often faced criticism for the Bears’ lack of production in the passing game.
“They should do some more research, more film watching, more something different,” said Ohio State wide receiver prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a former teammate of Fields.
“He’s whatever you need him to be. He’s a great passer, has a great arm, great eyes, great vision, reads a defense very well.”
Poles and the Bears are likely to trade down and out of the No. 1 pick as they seek to stockpile more draft capital in a deal with a team that covets a quarterback like Young or Stroud. From there, the Bears could use their resources to give Fields more support.
“I’m excited for where his game is going to go,” Poles said of Fields. “But at the same time, when you sit in our situation at No. 1 overall, you have to do your due diligence. You have to investigate everything. You got to spend time with those guys just to make sure we’re making the right decision.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
Listen live to 670 The Score via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker