Bears' Ryan Poles on Justin Fields Trade Rumors: 'I Want to Do Right by Justin'

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles doesn't want to leave quarterback Justin Fields in the lurch amid continued speculation over what the team will do with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Poles told reporters Tuesday ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine that "I want to do right by Justin" in the event Fields is traded.

On Monday, NBC Sports' Peter King reported there's a growing sense Chicago could move back in the first round.

"I suppose the Bears are going to trade the top pick," he wrote. "I know nothing, but that seems to be the way the wind is blowing. What I say: The Bears could keep [Fields] (and should), and trade the first pick down once or twice, and build the kind of supporting cast a team needs to contend."

You can make a practical case for keeping the No. 1 pick and selecting a quarterback, likely USC's Caleb Williams, or trading back and netting multiple valuable picks that help to address other areas of the roster.

In the case of the former, the Bears would reset the clock on a young QB signed to a rookie contract. The total value of Williams' rookie deal is $38.5 million over four years, which is less than the 12 highest-paid quarterbacks are making on average. That financial flexibility would help Poles make some blockbuster additions, much like how the Miami Dolphins acquired Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey with Tua Tagaovailoa still playing out his rookie deal.

In the latter scenario, strengthening the supporting cast around Fields could do wonders for both his development and the franchise's playoff odds. While quarterback C.J. Stroud was the catalyst, the Houston Texans' postseason run in 2023 was propelled in part by savvy drafting across the board.

Maybe that's the way to go even if Fields ultimately isn't the guy going forward. His successor would arrive with a solid foundation already in place.