Jordan Love Ascent Shows Why Bears Must Take Their QB Swing Now
Everybody has watched it develop for the past two months. Jordan Love looks like a developing star in Green Bay. Nobody wants to admit it, but that is the reality. He’s in a terrific situation with the Packers under a great head coach. That isn’t going to vanish anytime soon. This is the Chicago Bears’ reality. They can either whine about it or do everything in their power to challenge it. Fight fire with fire. This team won’t be able to overtake Green Bay until they have a quarterback who can elevate them.
Justin Fields hasn’t proven to be that guy. He’s a terrific athlete and a hard worker. Sadly, the Packers have proven that means nothing, as they’ve shut him down in every single matchup. There isn’t a QB they’ve feared in Chicago for decades. GM Ryan Poles now potentially has the ticket to changing that. He holds the #1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Most believe this class to be one of the strongest in recent memory. Three guys could go in the top 5. If the Bears can land the best one of the group, it could change the fortunes of their franchise almost overnight.
As always, it comes down to the evaluations and whether this coaching staff can be trusted to develop the kid.
Jordan Love has no direct threat in the division right now.
Kirk Cousins is approaching his 40s. Jared Goff has long been considered a second-tier guy. Fields is no match for him. The Bears could look to continue stacking their roster with talent everywhere else, hoping that is enough to finally get Fields over the hump. In reality, it feels like that isn’t a feasible plan. If a quarterback isn’t showing signs of excellence by the end of his third season, he will likely never show it. Few teams ever get to hold the #1 pick once in multiple decades. Chicago holds it for the second season in a row.
The improvement of Jordan Love has to increase the sense of urgency for the Bears to get that position figured out. Poles passed on C.J. Stroud last year. He had credible reasons to do so at the time. The roster wasn’t good enough to absorb a young quarterback. Fields had done enough to earn more time. That isn’t the case this time. Chicago retooled their offensive line. D.J. Moore is a star wide receiver. Cole Kmet is a quality tight end. They will be hiring a new and hopefully more accomplished offensive staff.
It is as good of a time as ever to bring in that young quarterback. You could argue this is the best setup the Bears have ever put together before picking this high. It’s time. Take the swing.