Bears WRs back Fields for 2024: 'Quarterback of the future'

Chicago Bears receivers Darnell Mooney and D.J. Moore hope Justin Fields remains the team's starting quarterback in 2024.

"Justin is the quarterback of the future," Mooney said Sunday, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "He's this franchise's quarterback. He's been balling. I don't understand why it's any more questions of that. Obviously, we have the first-round pick because of (the) Carolina (Panthers) right now, but Justin's a dog. If he's not here, he'll be somewhere else balling."

A first-round pick in 2021, Fields is signed through at least the 2024 season. However, Chicago will likely have a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye headlining the class, a quarterback is expected to be taken first overall next year. The Bears have a 94.9% chance of landing the No. 1 selection in 2024, according to ESPN. That choice originally belonged to Carolina, but Chicago acquired it as part of the trade that sent the 2023 first overall pick to the Panthers.

Fields is in his third season in Chicago. He has completed 61.4% of his passes in 2023 - his season-high - while throwing for 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions through 10 games. The 24-year-old, who's missed four contests this year due to injury, has also added 488 yards and two TDs on the ground.

"Bruh, where are y'all seeing this (doubt)?" wide receiver Moore said. "What makes him not the quarterback for the Chicago Bears right now? I get y'all got everybody coming out. What, it's like two of them? I don't think (Williams and Maye are) better than Justin."

The Bears have struggled to win games in the Fields era. The Ohio State product is 8-27 as a starter in the NFL, including 3-7 this season.

Moore - who was traded to Chicago from Carolina in the offseason - easily leads the Bears with 111 targets, 80 catches, 1,123 yards, and seven touchdown catches.