The faulty logic behind replacing Justin Fields with Caleb Williams

4. What happens if the Bears keep Justin Fields?

The intention of this article is to possibly change some minds about the Bears keeping Justin Fields.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, I want the Bears to not only keep Fields but make the historical trade-down that Peter King suggested.

From Washington, I want the Bears to get 3-technique, Da'Ron Payne. Given that Washington's minority owner Magic Johnson very much wants to get Williams, I suspect including Payne in a trade is doable.

Then, from Atlanta, tight end Kyle Pitts is the name that should be circled. This would allow the Bears to give Shane Waldron a dynamic double-tight-end set. Waldron has a play where two tight ends line up next to each other, standing behind the line of scrimmage.

A trade with Atlanta sets up the Bears to have the convenience of drafting both 8th and 9th. With these two picks, the Bears should draft a pass rusher and left tackle. My top two edge rushers are Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu. Verse combines brute strength with speed. Latu is not the fastest pass rusher but has lightning-quick hands and a ferocious focus on getting to the quarterback.

Then there is the matter of if you want to have a great offense, having a great offensive line will go a long way to achieving that goal. At left tackle, the Bears will have a shot to draft either Olu Fashanu or Amarius Mims. Mims is expected by some draft experts to blow up the combine with eye-opening measurables for a big strong fast left tackle pushing him into a top-ten pick.

In terms of the Bears drafting a left tackle with a top-ten pick, Caleb Williams' fans should note that one of his weaknesses is seeing blindside pressure. Braxton Jones' biggest weakness is pass protecting against the most talented pass rushers. Drafting a left tackle with a top-ten pick and moving Braxton over to left guard should create a formidable pass-protecting offensive line for the Bears.

Doing all this also means trading Nate Davis.

So how about this trade, the Bears give Miami one or two second-round picks, Nate Davis and maybe Kyler Gordon. The Bears get back the 21st pick in the draft and Jalen Ramsey. The Miami cornerback had a knee injury in training camp but came back to play in their eighth game of the season and played well throughout the season.

If the Bears add a talented 3-technique and a top-ten draft-pick pass rusher as well as having Jaylon Johnson and Jalen Ramsey as their cornerbacks, their defense could get pretty scary. Tyrique Stevenson could be shifted over to nickelback and he could prove to be a better nickel than Kyler Gordon given he is faster than Gordon.

What I foresee if the Bears keep Fields and are smart in how they add to their roster is definitely on a parallel track to what Jalen Hurts has had with a loaded roster in Philadelphia. Is it a stretch to imagine the Bears could do the same by keeping Justin and doing a great job of building up their roster? Maybe yes, maybe no, let's hope Ryan Poles gives Bears fans a shot to find this out.

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