As the Bears consider decisions that could set the tone for the entire NFL offseason, one Hall of Fame quarterback’s advice is to learn from the Giants’ recent mistakes.
Will the Bears stick with quarterback Justin Fields and trade the No. 1 draft pick, or repeat the decision they made last year by avoiding top-four picks Bryce Young, CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson? They have to decide whether to trade Fields and start. They get fresh by drafting Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jaden Daniels.
NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner said, “When you understand the situation quarterbacks are in this league, how much they have to pay quarterbacks, and what that means for organizations. , you should know he’s the guy,” he told some reporters. “For me, that’s where the team has a problem.
“The Giants intend to donate $40 million.” [per year] To Daniel Jones. He hasn’t shown us that he is that kind of guy. Maybe he’s seen a glimpse of it. He’s not that guy yet, so the Giants are still behind the 8-ball. Maybe he would be, but not now – and they paid him. ”
Jones made history last offseason by becoming the first quarterback since the rookie wage scale was introduced in 2011 to sign a contract extension despite having his fifth-year option declined.
The four-year, $160 million contract included $82 million guaranteed, but Jones’ dead cap fee ($22.2 million) if released in 2025 plus a rookie or second-year quarterback. Since he will be added to the salary cap, there is a possibility that he will leave the Giants after two seasons. If he was on the roster, the hit would still be less than Jones’ hit ($41.6 million).
The Giants are back in the quarterback market after Jones went 1-5 as a starter and suffered two serious neck injuries, his second in three years and a season-ending torn ACL in the worst season of his career. It’s a body.
“I think they made that contract a little bit worse,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reed told the Post last month. “I don’t want to say they have any regrets, but I think they know they can’t go into next year with Daniel Jones as their future quarterback.”
The Giants hold the No. 6 pick, so either they lock up one of the consensus top three quarterbacks or, as was thought to be the case when Jones was taken No. 6 in 2019, J.J. – They may need to trade up to determine if McCarthy is available.
“Generational prospects in college don’t guarantee generational prospects in the NFL,” said Warner, the infamously undrafted former Giants quarterback.
Fields and Jones posted similar numbers after three seasons.
Fields is 10-28 with an 82.3 quarterback rating, 40 touchdowns through the air, 30 interceptions, 2,220 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns.
Before Jones’ narrative-changing fourth season, where the Giants reached the playoffs with a Saquon Barkley-powered offense, he had a 12-25 record, 84.3 quarterback rating, and 45 touchdowns in three years. , had 29 interceptions through the air and had plus 1,000 yards. 5 touchdowns on the ground.
The Giants could have signed Barkley to an extension and franchise-tagged Jones (now a free agent), but they chose the opposite, believing the quarterback had turned a corner.
There’s an argument to be made that Fields is coming off his best season and should continue on this trajectory.
“If we have three years and we can’t get rid of the doubts, I think we need to move on,” Warner said. “You can’t go and pay a guy $50 million in hopes that that glimpse you saw will turn into something great. Some of them play too fast because they’re not ready. It may be a shame that there are some, but their next contracts will be determined by it.
“The following elements must be included” [the Bears] He has the right to be the No. 1 pick. It’s not like they have No. 23 and just go get the next quarterback. ”
Fields is scheduled to receive approximately $3.2 million in cash in 2024 and is eligible to sign a multi-year contract extension for the first time.
If Fields is traded before the draft, his next team will probably exercise his fifth-year option for 2025 for about $22 million by May 2, without ever seeing him practice. will need to be decided.
This situation is reminiscent of when the Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers after three seasons to make room to draft Zach Wilson.
The Panthers exercised Darnold’s option, which turned out to be a mistake as Darnold was benched twice, but it was still cheaper than extending him beyond two years.
Fields’ partners with the Bears could include the Steelers, Falcons, Vikings and Raiders.
If the No. 1 pick is available, the Commander-in-Chief, the Patriots, and perhaps the Giants could also be in the hunt.
