Justin Fields Gets Lots Of Love In Latest QB Power Rankings
The 2022 season is over. The teams have started preparations for 2023. As always, the quarterback landscape seems to have changed during this time. There are obvious supporters. Patrick Mahomes remains at the top. Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are with him. Other young guns like Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence come into the conversation. Chicago Bears fans wonder about national perception of Justin Fields. Maybe we have a partial answer.
Marc Sessler has released his latest quarterback power rankings for NFL.com. It featured the usual heavy hitter on top. Around 7th place things got interesting when Tua Tagovailoa showed up followed by Jared Goff. By far the biggest surprise, however, came at number 13, where Fields showed up. It’s the first time a Bears quarterback has ranked that high in ages. Sessler didn’t seem bothered by the constant speculation that Chicago would be better off trading the young quarterback.
If anything, he made it sound like a huge mistake.
“Ryan Poles won’t rule out picking a No. 1 overall quarterback. Consider it an open invitation for teams to call the general manager and offer a royal ransom. The idea of trading Fields away makes little sense after what he showed in 2023. Especially for a team with hefty draft capital and a titanic swathe of cap place. The Athletic’s Nate Tice doesn’t see a quarterback in this year’s draft equal to Fields, who quickly became a devastating game-changer on the floor. He needs polishing as a passer, but he spent his second season with a weak group of wideouts. Chicago’s off-season resources can fix that quickly.”
Justin Fields passed the first test.
He has proven that he can make a difference on the field. Sure, it came mostly on the ground, but it doesn’t change the fact that Chicago was in several of their games just because he played. If he could make such a big move despite playing in a brand new offense with little protection, then it stands to reason that once that protection improves he can improve as a passer. That and the assumption that the Bears will find better receiving talent as well. With his work ethic and talent at gunpoint, the odds are in his favor.
It depends on whether GM Ryan Poles thinks he can make that leap. It is whispered that Halas Hall loves Justin Fields. He really won them over in November, struggling through difficult circumstances to play some of his best games. There is serious optimism in the building. Everything points to him staying put unless one of those quarterbacks in the draft makes a deep impression. That doesn’t seem likely. This year feels like it’s all about bolstering those supporting cast.