Justin Fields is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL at the moment.
Once the Bears had locked up the number one overall selection, rumors began to swirl about Fields’ future with the franchise. USC’s Caleb Williams was and still is the obvious number-one overall selection, which would push Fields to the bench with the end of his rookie contract looming.
Keeping Fields as a backup didn’t make a lot of sense, both contract-wise and team morale-wise. It would have been a difficult transition for a guy who had once been hailed as the future of the franchise.