CHICAGO -- When Ryan Poles took over as general manager of the Chicago Bears, one notable item rose to the top of his offseason to-do list.
As he watched film from quarterback Justin Fields’ rookie season, Poles saw a lot of promise from the first-round pick. Fields has the ability to strike with a deep ball (11.8 yards per completion, seventh among starting QBs) and is effective in making things happen outside the pocket.
Poles also saw areas for improvement. Fields had 12 fumbles (fourth most in the NFL), seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions and was sacked 36 times (the most of any rookie last season).
Taking the good and bad into account, Poles organized a strategy for Fields as he makes the jump from a rookie to second-year NFL quarterback.
“There’s a high ceiling with him,” Poles said at the NFL combine. “It’s just putting him in position to succeed and seeing how high that ceiling is.”
As the Bears have begun a deliberate tear down of the roster, rebuilding around the quarterback has taken precedence. Of the nine players Chicago signed this month, six are on the offensive side of the ball including quarterback Trevor Siemian, who agreed to a two-year contract Thursday night, per his agent Mike McCartney. Surrounding Fields, 23, with a veteran quarterback who has 29 starts in 33 career games and extensive knowledge of the position is an important element for a young quarterback’s growth.
And despite Fields’ rookie season, when he was 2-8 in 10 starts, the quarterback is what drew at least two free agents to the Bears.
“I see him as an elite quarterback,” wide receiver Byron Pringle said. “He keeps his legs alive and he definitely knows how to extend plays, and that is something that I did in Kansas City. When the play broke down, I always tried to find, get in the quarterback’s vision. So, with him being able to keep plays and drives alive, I know I fit perfect in this offense, especially with a quarterback like Justin Fields.”
Pringle, the former Chiefs receiver, signed a one-year, $6 million contract with $4 million guaranteed. With two other wideouts on the roster who played in games last year -- Darnell Mooney, who crossed the 1,000-yard threshold, and Dazz Newsome, who had two catches -- finding Fields more targets should be a priority.
Pringle was primarily a slot receiver when he reached career highs with 42 receptions, 568 yards (13.5 yards per catch) and five touchdowns for Kansas City in 2021. That could be a role he’s best suited to fill in Luke Getsy’s offense considering he lined up in the slot for 61% of his snaps last season. If that means Mooney is projected to be the Z receiver, Chicago’s offense still needs a presence Getsy can flex outside as the X.
Equanimeous St. Brown was also signed as a free agent after three years in Green Bay, but that is not enough for the Bears to feel confident that they’ve set up Fields best for success.
While Chicago has chosen not to bolster its receiving corps with a proven, high-end target at a steep contract, it can go back in the latter wave of free agency and sign a veteran or two. With names like Will Fuller, Jarvis Landry and Julio Jones available, the cupboard isn’t bare. Chicago can also address this need in the draft, which features another deep receiver class.
Mock drafts predict offensive reinforcements for Chicago in the second round, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., who noted Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore, Memphis’ Calvin Austin III, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce and UCLA’s Kyle Philips as potential options for the Bears on Day 2. They have two second-round picks, at No. 39 and 48, and one third.
Lucas Patrick, a former undrafted free agent turned starting interior offensive lineman in Green Bay, also was attracted to the Bears because of Fields. He said as he was standing on the opposing sideline during Bears-Packers games, he hoped Fields wouldn’t get loose because he knew the quarterback could take off and sling the ball down the field. Patrick was also drawn to Fields' toughness and hopes to help cut down his sacks this season.
“I've had a good track record over the last two years of blocking for a quarterback and keeping him petty clean, and I plan to keep [Fields] as clean as possible so he can make the plays that he was brought in here to make,” said Patrick, who is projected at center.
The relationship a quarterback has with his center dictates everything up front. The two need to be in lockstep to make sure protections are set so the play can be successful. Patrick will not only be calling out the blocking assignments but will also help the rest of a new-look offensive line get up to speed.
But outside of Patrick and Dakota Dozier, who is likely a backup guard, the Bears have been relatively quiet in the offensive line market. Bills guard Ryan Bates, who received a right of first refusal tender from Buffalo, signed an offer sheet with the Bears on Thursday, a source told ESPN. If the Bills don’t match the offer within five days, a backup with 223 snaps played at guard last season -- earning a 93% pass block win rate, which is above average, and a 59% run block win rate, which is among the lowest at the position -- will come to Chicago to compete for a starting job on the interior.
The few offensive line moves might also mean the team plans to roll with Teven Jenkins at left tackle and Larry Borom at right tackle, both of whom would be first-time starters.
Fields is in the second year of his rookie contract, a net positive when it comes to building around the quarterback, because of his minimal salary cap charge. It means the Bears still have room to make moves on both the offensive line and at receiver to amplify Fields’ growth in Year 2.
“It just gives you the ability to do more to help build the entire roster,” Poles said. “The other thing is just always keeping in mind guys that can help him and how he can help them as well. But it's the support for that player. What does he play well with? What does the offensive need to perform well? And also looking at historical information of what has helped second-year quarterbacks be successful as well.”