What Should Happen at the Top of the Draft

[Aerolithe_Lion]

I’m really surprised by how averse people are about Chicago going QB at #1.

It has nothing to do with me viewing Justin Fields as a bust, that’s internet hyperbole. You don’t move on from a player only because he’s a bust. If Philly offered DeVonta Smith straight up for Christian Kirk, does Jacksonville say no (financials ignored)? They had similar seasons, similar stats. But of course Jacksonville does it; DeVonta is substantially the better prospect, much younger and has far more potential. That philosophy works in every position, you want the best possible player with the highest upside. Why does it not work at QB more than any?

Has Fields earned a giant longterm deal yet? Does he look like he’s about to explode for an MVP-contention season or lead the Bears to the division title next year? No, he had some really good moments in 2022, but his worth to Chicago is still based almost entirely on future projection. He is still a prospect. Having said that, If Justin Fields were in this draft, he would not be the top prospect, he would not even be a top 2 QB. Maybe not even top 3 depending on how high you are with Levis.

Stroud and Young are hands down better prospects at the most important position in professional sports. Trying to get a 1 for Fields and drafting Stroud should be the slam dunk move. Doesn’t mean Fields is a bust by any means. Just about making the team as good as possible.

 

[timb2]

If Bears stay at #1 ,they most likely draft Will Anderson from Alabama.

 

[DFWJC]

I’m really surprised by how averse people are about Chicago going QB at #1.

It has nothing to do with me viewing Justin Fields as a bust, that’s internet hyperbole. You don’t move on from a player only because he’s a bust. If Philly offered DeVonta Smith straight up for Christian Kirk, does Jacksonville say no (financials ignored)? They had similar seasons, similar stats. But of course Jacksonville does it; DeVonta is substantially the better prospect, much younger and has far more potential. That philosophy works in every position, you want the best possible player with the highest upside. Why does it not work at QB more than any?

Has Fields earned a giant longterm deal yet? Does he look like he’s about to explode for an MVP-contention season or lead the Bears to the division title next year? No, he had some really good moments in 2022, but his worth to Chicago is still based almost entirely on future projection. He is still a prospect. Having said that, If Justin Fields were in this draft, he would not be the top prospect, he would not even be a top 2 QB. Maybe not even top 3 depending on how high you are with Levis.

Stroud and Young are hands down better prospects at the most important position in professional sports. Trying to get a 1 for Fields and drafting Stroud should be the slam dunk move. Doesn’t mean Fields is a bust by any means. Just about making the team as good as possible.

The QBs seem very good and very deep, but maybe not great.
Btw, not so sure Stroud will even be the 2nd QB picked.
Next year, on the other hand. Williams and Maye look potentially better than anyone this year...imo

Anyway, unless there is a non-QB that they feel is all-world, I would consider trading down (not too far) and bringing in a giant draft haul if I was in the Bears' shoes.

 

[DFWJC]

If Bears stay at #1 ,they most likely draft Will Anderson from Alabama.

Or Jalen Carter of UGA

 

[Mr_437]

Interesting take. It would be a bold move that I don't recall ever seeing in the draft at QB. CHI could get multiple picks from trading the #1 pick to help build the team that needs more talent all over, also. In addition, look at how things turned around for Hurts after he got some more talent around him on offense.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

The QBs seem very good and very deep, but maybe not great.
Btw, not so sure Stroud will even be the 2nd QB picked.
Next year, on the other hand. Williams and Maye look potentially better than anyone this year...imo

Anyway, unless there is a non-QB that they feel is all-world, I would consider trading down (not too far) and bringing in a giant draft haul if I was in the Bears' shoes.

Or Bryce Young. Stroud wasn’t my emphatic endorsement but simply the QB I see mocked the most at the top.

Here’s an alternate take: let’s say Dallas is offered Patrick Mahomes for Dak and Micah. As much sentimentality as you have for those players, for the good of the team you do that trade 100 times out of 100.

Now this is not me saying Bryce Young is Patrick Mahomes. But comparatively, Justin Fields is no Dak Prescott either. Fields has shown limited growth his first 2 years in read progression, accuracy under pressure, and throwing downfield to receivers with only small separation. 100 out of 100 analysts would agree that the top QB in the 2023 draft (Whether you think that ends up being Levis, Young, or Stroud), will be a better pro in 5 years than Fields. If they weren’t people wouldn’t be considering them at the top of the draft.

A Will Anderson doesn’t cover the Quarterback discrepancy like that, even if there is a chance he’s the next Micah

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Or Jalen Carter of UGA

I’ll go record saying I think Jalen Carter is a good, but overrated prospect.

I don’t think he warrants the #1 overall talk.

JMO.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Interesting take. It would be a bold move that I don't recall ever seeing in the draft at QB. CHI could get multiple picks from trading the #1 pick to help build the team that needs more talent all over, also. In addition, look at how things turned around for Hurts after he got some more talent around him on offense.

Remember Arizona took Josh Rosen 10th overall, then took Kyler Murray first overall the very next year as his superior upside was undeniable.

To a lesser extent, Carolina took Jimmy Claussen in the second round in 2010 to be their franchise QB and then took Cam Newton 1st overall the very next year because the opportunity to upgrade the position is not something you take lightly.

So this isn’t necessarily unprecedented. Also, again not saying Fields can’t have a Hurts ascension, just that the other QBs are projected more likely to do so. It’s not a “Fields can’t be good” opinion

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

I’ll go record saying I think Jalen Carter is a good, but overrated prospect.

I don’t think he warrants the #1 overall talk.

JMO.

He’s my dream get for Philly. If 3 QBs go top 5, he could very plausibly be available around 7, wouldn’t take much more than New Orleans’ 2024 2nd round pick we still have to move up and snag him

 

[Mr_437]

Remember Arizona took Josh Rosen 10th overall, then took Kyler Murray first overall the very next year as his superior upside was undeniable.

To a lesser extent, Carolina took Jimmy Claussen in the second round in 2010 to be their franchise QB and then took Cam Newton 1st overall the very next year because the opportunity to upgrade the position is not something you take lightly.

So this isn’t necessarily unprecedented. Also, again not saying Fields can’t have a Hurts ascension, just that the other QBs are projected more likely to do so. It’s not a “Fields can’t be good” opinion

Thanks, I forgot those moves for good reason. Fields is much better than those guys, which, would make a move surprising.

Or Bryce Young. Stroud wasn’t my emphatic endorsement but simply the QB I see mocked the most at the top.

Here’s an alternate take: let’s say Dallas is offered Patrick Mahomes for Dak and Micah. As much sentimentality as you have for those players, for the good of the team you do that trade 100 times out of 100.

Now this is not me saying Bryce Young is Patrick Mahomes. But comparatively, Justin Fields is no Dak Prescott either. Fields has shown limited growth his first 2 years in read progression, accuracy under pressure, and throwing downfield to receivers with only small separation. 100 out of 100 analysts would agree that the top QB in the 2023 draft (Whether you think that ends up being Levis, Young, or Stroud), will be a better pro in 5 years than Fields. If they weren’t people wouldn’t be considering them at the top of the draft.

A Will Anderson doesn’t cover the Quarterback discrepancy like that, even if there is a chance he’s the next Micah

Now I see how you feel about Fields haha. So, it comes down to how the organization feels about their QB, but they do have an opportunity to get the young QB they feel is the best. I'm sure this will be talked about up till the the draft.

 

[Hardline]

If I was the Bears I would draft Bryce Young and let him compete with Feilds for the starting job. The one that loses is trade bait in two years

 

[cnuball21]

I’m pretty sure Philly and Jax are glad they didn’t give up on their QBs after mediocre starts to their careers.

If Chi actually tried to build around Fields, like Philly did, they look like a whole different team.

 

[ghst187]

QB is so vastly more important than any other position that if you think a guy is a franchise QB you have to take him. I think Stroud and Young are. I see a lot of mocks with Levis at 1 and to me he looks like Paxton Lynch with just as much bust potential.
Not only is QB the most important position, it’s also the most expensive by far further adding sense and cents as to why you take QB at the top unless you just know you already have a guy. Even then, I’d be thinking.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

I’m pretty sure Philly and Jax are glad they didn’t give up on their QBs after mediocre starts to their careers.

If Chi actually tried to build around Fields, like Philly did, they look like a whole different team.

Those are two very different situations to complement my point. Trevor Lawrence had the highest upside of any player draft the last 2 years, they wouldn’t take another QB 1 over all as they proved this year.

Hurts is the opposite; Philly believed in him, but no one could have anticipated the season he had. If they had the opportunity to get Trevor Lawrence in 2021 after drafting Hurts in 2020, absolutely no question Philly does that. You could argue they still would do it despite seeing what Hurts has become.

It’s not that Fields can’t be that as Hurts did, it’s that the single best QB in the draft has a much higher plausibility of it happening, as Lawrence did.

Also consider this: Fields is up for an extension after next year. How far away is Chicago from getting Fields the talent Hurts has? 2 years? 3 years? At that point Fields is either making 40-50m a year or is off the team. If they had a rookie this year, he’d still be on his rookie deal.

Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud. It’s worth it

 

[RS12]

I’ll go record saying I think Jalen Carter is a good, but overrated prospect.

I don’t think he warrants the #1 overall talk.

JMO.

I dunno. Finding a dominant DT is almost as hard as finding a franchise QB. He looks to me like he could be that guy.

 

[Malhavoc]

I dunno. Finding a dominant DT is almost as hard as finding a franchise QB. He looks to me like he could be that guy.

He’s got the talent. And at times he looks like the best football player on the field. But other times he just doesn’t look the part. I would not take him before Anderson, but Carter has natural gifts you can’t teach.

 

[cnuball21]

Those are two very different situations to complement my point. Trevor Lawrence had the highest upside of any player draft the last 2 years, they wouldn’t take another QB 1 over all as they proved this year.

Hurts is the opposite; Philly believed in him, but no one could have anticipated the season he had. If they had the opportunity to get Trevor Lawrence in 2021 after drafting Hurts in 2020, absolutely no question Philly does that. You could argue they still would do it despite seeing what Hurts has become.

It’s not that Fields can’t be that as Hurts did, it’s that the single best QB in the draft has a much higher plausibility of it happening, as Lawrence did.

Also consider this: Fields is up for an extension after next year. How far away is Chicago from getting Fields the talent Hurts has? 2 years? 3 years? At that point Fields is either making 40-50m a year or is off the team. If they had a rookie this year, he’d still be on his rookie deal.

Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud. It’s worth it

Yea but it’s a weak QB class. I think Stroud is a slightly better prospect than Fields was but we’re not talking about a Lawrence, Burrow etc…

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I dunno. Finding a dominant DT is almost as hard as finding a franchise QB. He looks to me like he could be that guy.

I’d take Carter in a heartbeat. I’m just not enamored with him as much as others are. I don’t see him as some generational talent.

 

[MAZEREZAM]

I’m really surprised by how averse people are about Chicago going QB at #1.

It has nothing to do with me viewing Justin Fields as a bust, that’s internet hyperbole. You don’t move on from a player only because he’s a bust. If Philly offered DeVonta Smith straight up for Christian Kirk, does Jacksonville say no (financials ignored)? They had similar seasons, similar stats. But of course Jacksonville does it; DeVonta is substantially the better prospect, much younger and has far more potential. That philosophy works in every position, you want the best possible player with the highest upside. Why does it not work at QB more than any?

Has Fields earned a giant longterm deal yet? Does he look like he’s about to explode for an MVP-contention season or lead the Bears to the division title next year? No, he had some really good moments in 2022, but his worth to Chicago is still based almost entirely on future projection. He is still a prospect. Having said that, If Justin Fields were in this draft, he would not be the top prospect, he would not even be a top 2 QB. Maybe not even top 3 depending on how high you are with Levis.

Stroud and Young are hands down better prospects at the most important position in professional sports. Trying to get a 1 for Fields and drafting Stroud should be the slam dunk move. Doesn’t mean Fields is a bust by any means. Just about making the team as good as possible.

C’mon now. No team is going to draft 2 first round QBs within 2 years of each other.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

C’mon now. No team is going to draft 2 first round QBs within 2 years of each other.

Except Arizona just did it