Nobody knows what the Chicago Bears have planned for the quarterback position in 2024. GM Ryan Poles has maintained that no final decision will be made until the 2023 season ends. It’s easy to understand why. After a rough start in September, Justin Fields has played three of his best games over his past four starts. While everybody is already thinking about Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, the fact is Fields continues to strengthen his case for another year as the starter. Or at least that is how it looks from the outside.

Only Poles knows what the future holds at quarterback. Some people think he’s already planning to move on, presuming he ends up with the #1 overall pick courtesy of Carolina. Trading Fields would be the clear course of action in such a situation. Some people have said there is no market for the quarterback. The best they can hope for is a mid-round pick. Field Yates and Matt Miller of ESPN don’t believe that is the case. Come the off-season, teams will be interested in swinging a deal for Fields.

It comes down to how many.

“YATES: THE BEARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOUP A LITTLE BIT OF DRAFT CAPITAL FOR FIELDS, TOO. WHILE HIS INCONSISTENCY AS A THROWER IS PART OF WHY THEY ARE IN THIS SPOT, HIS MOBILITY AND FLASHES WILL HAVE SOME ALLURE TO OTHER TEAMS, WHETHER IT BE AS A STARTER OR BACKUP. HE WOULD COST A TEAM ABOUT $3.2 MILLION FOR 2024, A TOTALLY REASONABLE COST.

MILLER: AND THERE WOULD BE A MARKET FOR HIM. JUST LOOK AT HOW MANY TEAMS OUTSIDE THE TOP TWO PICKS HAVE A NEED AT THE POSITION AND WON’T BE ABLE TO FILL IT WITH A PREMIUM PLAYER. I LOVE THE FALCONS FOR HIM IF THEY’RE NOT IN PLAY TO DRAFT ONE OF THE TOP QBS.”

Justin Fields is helping the Bears’ case if that is the plan.

If Poles is dead set on making a change, then Fields playing well serves his purpose by increasing his trade value. Teams will be more inclined to give up significant draft capital if they think they’re getting a quarterback who is salvageable as a starter. Keep in mind Sam Darnold got traded for 2nd, 4th, and 6th round picks in 2021. Fields has been far more productive than the former New York Jets starter was. So it wouldn’t be at all outrageous for the Bears to demand as much or more.

Poles could use that to continue fortifying the roster while also taking his QB of choice in the 1st round. Plenty of people will say if Justin Fields is playing well, it’s far more logical to keep him. This is true in a vacuum. That said, it doesn’t matter if the man in charge doesn’t see you as a franchise guy. Poles didn’t draft him. He’s had almost two full years to see what the QB can do. What is good enough for some might not be good enough for Poles. Answers are seven weeks away.