So I will try to explain this as best I can. As of right now, I think Fields is an average NFL starter, I get it average isn’t what we want, but I think he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. He’s probably the only “average” quarterback in the league who terrifies defensive coordinators. The defense (usually) literally gives up one of their players to mirror his movements. I think with a brighter offensive coordinator that can be taken advantage of more often. He helps open up lanes in the passing and running game for others.
His learning curve hasn’t been as accelerated as we’d like it to be, but I think there are some reasons for that beyond just his control. We want him to put up big passing numbers, and he’s barely even had an adequate team around him for any length of time. For 5 years Patrick Mahomes had Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid. Those are three 1st ballot HOFers. Justin has had DJ Moore (for 9 games), Darnell Mooney, and Luke Getsy. Now that Mahomes doesn’t have Hill, and Travis Kelce looks to be in a slight decline all of a sudden he looks merely pretty good instead of superhuman.
I think I know what the floor is (fairly high) with Fields, and I think his ceiling is still through the roof. He’s not expensive yet, and I’m not sure I’m trading that in for a guy I’m 60% sure will be great at the next level.
A lot of average passers "terrify defensive coordinators" when they are able to beat them with their legs. Robert Griffin III terrified defensive coordinators, but he got hurt and couldn't run anymore and never could pass the ball consistently.
I think Fields is an "average NFL starter" - in that he provides average value to an NFL team as a starting QB - if you take into account BOTH his electric running, and his mediocre passing (combined with his sack and turnover issues). Like, unless he becomes a better passer, I'm never going to be sold on him even if he rushes for a ton of yards. He needs to be able to throw the ball IMO, and despite the claims earlier this year of some huge turnaround that hasn't really materialized.
Obviously he doesn't need to throw for 300 yards and 4 TD every game, but even since the Washington game he's just been "okay" in the passing game. Efficient and hasn't thrown picks (which is great), but he isn't really consistently moving the ball with his arm in the way you'd like to see.
I agree re: now that Mahomes doesn't have Tyreek, he and Kelce both look human. But I think that's a large part of what scares me about Fields - it will not be long until we will have to pay him in a way that will limit our ability to put weapons around him, and even the Chiefs have looked more human since they had to pay Mahomes and had to move Tyreek. I do not think he's really come close - IMO - to justify what he'll need to be to be worth what the Bears will have to pay to keep him.
Like obviously everyone is hoping this never happens, but say Fields got hurt in a way that severely limited his athleticism/running game. How confident are you that he can be a really good passer, if the threat to run for 100 yards isn't there anymore? At some point in Fields' career assuming he lasts 5-8 more years at a minimum, that ability will no longer be there.
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