Chicago Bears: Predicting the offensive depth chart for Week 1

Chicago Bears Depth Chart: Quarterbacks

This depth chart positioning is very easy to figure out, even though Matt Nagy and company are wrong with their decision regarding the position. No one needs to see Andy Dalton in the regular season to know that he does not have the “it-factor” that Justin Fields has already shown. Nothing about Matt Nagy’s offense is special enough to think Andy Dalton will be any better than he ever has been while playing in the NFL.

QB1: Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton is the starter for the Week 1 game versus the Los Angeles Rams. Will he play the entire season? Will he play only a few games? Will he even finish the first game or will he play so poorly that Matt Nagy will wake up and realize he made a mistake and put Justin Fields in at halftime?

At this point, I don’t know if we will see Fields before their Week 10 bye.

QB2: Justin Fields

Was Justin Fields perfect in his preseason games? No. Did he flash enough that he should be starting over Andy Dalton? Yes. I am tired of hearing about how Matt Nagy is comparing the situation to the one he saw in Kansas City with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes. Alex Smith was a Pro Bowl quarterback in a system he already was succeeding in. Andy Dalton could now be considered a journeyman as he’s on his third team with a fourth team on the horizon next season.

Justin Fields is the future, but he should also be the now.

QB3: Nick Foles

I originally wanted to put “mystery quarterback” here as I have a feeling Nick Foles is traded before the NFL trade deadline in November. That said, I doubt it happens before Week 1 despite rumors they are listening to trade offers. Injuries happen all the time and if a team pushing for a playoff spot suffers a blow at the quarterback position, sending Nick Foles out the door could be what’s best for both sides.