Insider: Bears have focus set on QB path they want to take

Justin Fields' days with the Bears could be numbered.

NFL insider Dianna Russini discussed Chicago's plans at quarterback in an article for The Athletic on Saturday and noted it appears "focused on using its first pick to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams."

Earlier this week, Bears general manager Ryan Poles declined to say which way the team was leaning but expressed a desire to trade Fields before the start of free agency if the Bears decided to draft a quarterback at No. 1 overall.

The Falcons have been connected to Fields, a Georgia native, the most and are the favorite to land him according to DraftKings.

Russini cautioned that the timing might not work out exactly how Poles and Fields would like. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield are free agents (Russell Wilson will likely soon join them) and might be the priority for teams in the QB market, including the Falcons, Broncos, Bucs, Vikings, Steelers, and Raiders.

"It appears his market is soft for now," wrote Russini, who spoke with an NFC general manager who said, "When people know you are getting rid of something, they don't pay as much."

Fields is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract and posted career-highs in completion percentage (61.4 percent), passing yards (2,562) and passer rating (86.3) last season.

He'll probably be playing somewhere other than in Chicago in 2024. Where that will be (and when he'll get there) could be up to this year's free-agent quarterbacks to decide.