Flash Tizzle

I agree, but on the other hand if Mac Jones was bringing in a 3rd or 4th rounder we’d be pretty confident in Fields being worth atleast a 2nd. Cousins apparently makes his decision to test FA tonight. If the Vikings cant figure it out by tonight, he’s basically gone. You don’t let him hit the market knowing several teams will be interested.

If Mac Jones is worth a 6th round pick, I’d be concerned if I was the Bears. A 3rd rounder may be what’s in store if the Falcons sign Cousins.

They’re not directly related, but Poles fortune with trading the #1 pick last year (and ending up with #1 again) has bought him a bit of leeway it seems. Now, if he botches the draft and has some terrible return for Fields, everything will immediately change. For now, a lot of Bears fans believe in Poles and have chosen to ignore the Claypool debacle.

Yeah, but what hurts here is there is no bluffing. We cannot say, well, if you don’t give us what we want, we will just keep Fields. Or, if you do not give us what we want, we will just give him to one of the 10 other teams interested. The market is limited, and he is not coming back. If Poles wants to wait this out to hope for a 2nd round pick, good luck. He’s a better poker player than I would be with a bad hand.

There’s lot of cope among Bears fans trying to explain why Poles traded a 5th round pick for Bates, who likely would have been cut from the Bills anyway. What’s the most likely scenario here - Poles “got his guy” and wanted to act quickly before he hit the market? Or (I believe the more likely scenario) he was duped by the Bills trying to get something of value before cutting him. Which, on its own isn’t a big deal - but my God some of the excuses and justifications is like Sox fans trying to rationalize overpaying for a utility infielder.

I agree, and I’d go a step further and suggest he should be gone before the start of free agency. The Bears benefit from having more trading partners. If we have to wait for Cousins to sign for everything to fall into place, that’s a terrible gamble. Especially if the negotiations carry on for weeks. Or worse if Atlanta signs him and now it’s Pittsburgh and…..Minnesota (which no one wants) Fields’ trade value shouldn’t be such a concern. You would think we don’t have the number one and number nine pick. If they want a second rounder, just trade down from number nine. Or give up a 2025 second rounder for one this year.

At some point he had to let everyone know that Fields was for sale. If not the combine, when? We already knew coming in the market for him was thin. I’m fine with cutting losses and trading Fields for a 3rd rounder. In the scenario ss2k5 presented, let’s say we are now weeks into free agency and Fields is still here. Are we willing to hold out and keep him on the roster past the draft? If the answer is no, then it’s not worth the headaches to MAYBE get a 2nd round pick.

Even if this is just to bolster their line a bit, doesn’t it seem very rushed to do it right now?

I wonder if their offseason plan heavily depended on Fields bringing atleast a 2nd round pick, and now they’re scrambling a bit. We don’t know their overall plan (although we can assume Williams is the number one pick) but why do this and give up our already limited draft capital?

I don’t think his stock has fallen as much as these WR and QB options pushing him down a bit. He probably won’t make it far past 10. It really seems like Olu’s stock has dipped a bit too in mock drafts. Which is always strange when things change months after any of these players have had a single snap lol. It will be interesting to see how the combine goes for the O linemen

Odunze may have helped his draft status even further after the combine yesterday. Today several articles popped up of different teams (Colts, Jaguars) showing interest in trading up in the Top 10 to draft him. If you believe the draft will go some order of: williams, maye, daniels, MHJ, Nabers, Alt, Odunze We may be on the outside at #9. I believe if everything unfolded that way above, we would either take a defensive pick (Verse, Turner) or just trade down and recoup a 2nd rounder. Which may not be a bad plan B

It’s funny, I just read an article in The Athletic where several executives thought his value could be more than we expect. It’s all over the place, and really depends on how willing someone is to just throw out a 2nd round pick and be done with the QB search before the start if free agency

We need to unload Fields. Stop pushing along this distraction narrative that has lingered on for months. Everyone knows we’re not shopping the #1 pick. If Falcons get the better of us, ok. We do have the #1 and #9 picks; we’ll be fine. And If they want that 2nd rounder soooo bad then trade down from #9.

There’s no way we should enter next season with unnecessary distractions. We’re setting Caleb (or another QB) up for failure right away. All for what, we were holding out for a pipe-dream second round pick? Maybe a third with a second round conditional next season? It’s just not worth it. Personally, I was hoping Fields would have been conditionally traded before the QB portion of the combine tomorrow. It’s going to be so predictable, one or more of Nix, McCarthy or Penix will have multiple teams fall in love and raise their value. We don’t want Atlanta thinking about trading down and taking McCarthy. There aren’t enough teams interested in Fields, as it is. There are times where it’s ok to admit defeat. Fields trade value is one. We absolutely cannot “do right by him” by keeping him in limbo

Parkins from 670 and Kaplan from 1000 (Sports radio hosts for all you out of towners) are probably the only two I can think of who are outspoken about drafting a QB. And both of them are already outspoken personalities who bring heat on themselves regularly for their takes. I really believe the others within the media are scared to voice their opinions, and risk having Fields stay. Or openly pushing for Fields and then having another QB. No one wants to be wrong. Harrison Graham on the Bears Now Youtube channel has been teasing making his QB opinion for months. Fans have been calling him out for it. By now everyone has had their minds set. If you cannot speak out, one way or another, your sports opinion is compromised.

I really believe we’re going to look back at this smoke-screened, misinformation time period and realize how ridiculous it ever sounded that the Bears would keep Fields during a talented QB draft. Let’s be honest, there’s no haul that is worth a Top Tier QB. I’d like to believe the same talent evaluators on the Bears learned their lesson from passing on Stroud. Although It cannot be considered a “mistake” how everything unfolded last draft. They benefited tremendously, and are still cashing in on the rewards. But now is the time to take advantage of our position, to improve the most important position.

Great post. This isn’t one of those situations where we can just hold onto Fields if no one gives us what we want. He needs to be traded, preferably before the start of free agency in March. I don’t want us left holding the Fields bag with no one left to trade with. We have more important issues than devoting time to Fields trade value in a limited market.

Even if you guaranteed me that, I’d still lean towards the possibility of drafting QB greatness.

There’s more of a market for Russell Wilson, though. Even if it is one more team (Raiders) than for Fields. If I’m Poles, I’m not playing the game of waiting for desperation from one of Pittsburgh or Atlanta. Take a 2nd round pick from either team and move on. We aren’t exactly in a good spot here. Especially if everyone in the know, actually knows we are moving on from Fields and drafting a QB.

Also, I do believe if the Bears keep Fields and trade down for a haul, the team could very well end up making the playoffs. So I don’t think it’s a “terrible” decision there. It’s just now, the possibilities are far greater for either scenario of NFL greatness….or NFL lore for a legendary bust.

I really wonder if Poles somewhere deep in himself hates the idea of ending up with the #1 pick. I know, red hot take - how could he be anything but thrilled? As fans we of course love the possibilities, as does the media for the stories its creates; but our situation now has so many possibilities (for right and wrong). If the Bears selected #4 or below with the Carolina pick it’s likely a non-issue - Fields would be returning. We’d have a clearer path. If we select the wrong QB (ie, Trubisky/Mahomes, Young/Strous), or keep Fields and miss out on a generational talent, Poles is done. Not immediately, but his shelf life with the Bears will have been lessened. High expectations would have followed Poles regardless. However, when you select number one in a draft with a supposed generational talent on top, two other quarterbacks likely going #2 and #3, the expectations rightfully skyrocket.

That’s what’s so maddening. KC defense held McCaffrey in check the entire game. Yet their final drive he accounted for 51 yards, alone. Give him the fucking ball

If KC held for the 4th down, they’d still have to drive 60 + yards for the FG. I don’t think it would’ve made a difference with how SF’s defense was looking the second half, but that’s why you’re there - to win the trophy. Put some pressure on KC to score a TD

4th and 4 at the goal line, I was hoping SF would go for it. You’re at th Superbowl, in OT. Play to win the damn game in the hands of your best players (McCaffrey/Purdy).

If all their resources - scouts, analytics, etc. come up with Maye as the #1 pick - he should be selected. If he is overlooked because Mitch also played at UNC, and they’re scared of the narrative, Poles may as well resign immediately. We cannot have people scared to fail. The Beara should be so confident in their selection that theyre willing to overlook that.