The Chicago Bears are going to need to re-think their plan when it comes to their backup quarterback. Last season they signed Trevor Siemian and Nathan Peterman. The good news was that the team liked them in the meeting rooms. The bad news was that they did not feel like either of them could run a similar offense to Justin Fields.
Once Fields went down, the offense had to change dramatically. That is not what you want to do. The smarter option would be to add a backup who can come in and learn the same offense that Justin Fields is running. Who are some of the best options for this plan?
6. Should Chicago Bears pursue Marcus Mariota?
This is one that we have already discussed, and it does make a lot of sense. The Atlanta Falcons currently have Marcus Mariota under contract, but the team is expected to let him go after benching him this season.
Mariota took the news hard, but it should be the wake-up call that he will not get a starting chance next season. He has to look for a backup job now. The perfect fit would be behind Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears.
Few quarterbacks had as many designed rush attempts as Marcus Mariota and Justin Fields. It was not an identical offense, but it surely was similar. With an offseason in the building, the team could run the same offense with Mariota as they did with Justin Fields. Beyond that, now that Mariota realizes he is a backup, he can provide more context into running this offense than someone like Trevor Siemian. It is such a better stylistic fit.
Mariota probably sees that Fields missed time with two separate injuries this year. While he may not be a starter again, he may know his best chance to start is backing up someone like Justin Fields. That could give us a win-win situation for Mariota, and it may make it even easier for the Chicago Bears to sign him.