ESPN analyst addresses Bears' Justin Fields, Caleb Williams dilemma

 ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky generated headlines when he previously suggested the Chicago Bears should make LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels and not USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the first pick of the 2024 draft. 

During a Friday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Orlovsky poured cold water over the idea that the Bears could potentially keep 2023 Week 1 starter Justin Fields and pass on Williams or any other rookie at the position. 

Orlovsky mentioned that both Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles would likely be fired in January 2025 if Fields failed to guide the club to at least a winning record next season with Williams not on the roster. 

Orlovsky added that things could get complicated for Eberflus and Poles if Fields turned a figurative corner and guided the club to a playoff appearance. 

"His agent, David Mulugheta, is one of the best, if not the best, agents in the NFL," Orlovsky said about Fields. "...[Mulugheta] will get Fields so much money that the Bears, all of a sudden...went from maybe taking a cheap rookie quarterback to having to shell out $250M to a quarterback. That's going to expedite or ramp up that winning process and kind of have an impact on it in a significant way."

Orlovsky isn't entirely correct as of March 15 in that Chicago still has until the May 2 deadline to decide about Fields' option worth around $25.7M for the 2025 season. With that said, there's zero indication the Bears will exercise that option regardless of what they do with the draft's first selection. 

It's worth noting that some knowledgeable individuals believe teams such as the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants are simply waiting for the Bears to drop their asking price regarding a trade of Fields. Most assume Chicago won't want Fields and Williams existing in the same quarterback room once training camp practices begin. 

As recently as Friday, ESPN's Field Yates predicted in a mock draft that the Bears would select Williams first overall and eventually "accept a reasonable offer" for Fields. 

Interestingly, Orlovsky also said he "would be floored" if Mulugheta let Fields stay with the Bears as Williams spent the summer preparing to become the club's QB1. Fields has not yet publicly requested a trade, but it sounds like some in the NFL community believe he could once the Bears meet with Williams as soon as next week.