No decision has been made yet, but it’s getting closer. The Chicago Bears need answers at the quarterback position. Justin Fields has had almost three full seasons to cement his grip on the job. It hasn’t happened. There are seven games left for him to change that. However, based on whispers from Halas Hall, the odds are stacked against him. Unless Fields can show more of that form he had in Washington and win some of the upcoming games, there is a strong belief the Bears will start over at quarterback next spring.

All of the conversations center around two names: USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Both were the heavy favorites going into this season, and not much has changed. They’re considered top-tier prospects who are locks for the top-5. One of them is all but certain to go #1 overall. Chicago controls that spot at the moment, thanks to the Carolina Panthers’ 1st round pick they own. Adam Jahns of The Athletic believes any QB conversation starts with those two. However, the insider indicated another name might be on their shortlist.

“I THINK THERE IS A BETTER CHANCE THAT THE BEARS WILL BE “ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY” BY A QUARTERBACK IN THE 2024 DRAFT CLASS THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR.

OR PUT IT THIS WAY: THE BEARS MIGHT HAVE MISSED ON C.J. STROUD, BUT THEY WON’T ALLOW THEMSELVES TO MISS ON CALEB WILLIAMS OR DRAKE MAYE OR EVEN J.J. MCCARTHY.

IF THE BEARS BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THOSE PROSPECTS — STARTING WITH WILLIAMS AND MAYE — HAS A HIGHER CEILING THAN FIELDS IN THE NFL, THEN THEY MUST TAKE HIM.”

The Chicago Bears’ interest in McCarthy would hardly be surprising.

Remember, one of the things they’ve preached from the outset is protecting the football. They want the quarterback to be efficient, make good reads, keep the offense on track, and not turn it over. McCarthy has been a model of consistency since becoming Michigan’s starter in 2022. He threw only five interceptions in 14 games last year. This season, he’s only thrown three while boasting 18 touchdown passes. The crucial part of his evaluation is not getting lost in the numbers. People will think his modest stats are indicative of a quarterback who can’t win games with his arm.

That isn’t the case with McCarthy. He’s got plenty of velocity. His accuracy and decision-making are also strong. His primary concerns are his slender build (197 lbs), inconsistent ball placement, and a tendency to drop his eyes when under pressure. Comparisons for him have ranged from Kirk Cousins to Andrew Luck. If the Chicago Bears don’t end up having a shot to get Williams or Maye, it sounds like McCarthy could be their Plan B. If so, he would be the second Michigan quarterback drafted by the franchise. The first? His head coach, Jim Harbaugh, in 1987.