BY: DYLAN FLAIM & NOAH KRAVITZ
Staff Writers
The Super Bowl is long gone, which means the NFL offseason is here, filled with discussions about free agency, trades and rumors involving the upcoming NFL Draft. We are going to go over some of the most pressing topics that are about to gain some steam in the coming weeks.
What will the Chicago Bears do with the No. 1 Pick?
Some of the biggest headlines throughout the offseason have been about what the Chicago Bears will do with their first overall selection in the 2024 Draft. The top prospects in the NFL Draft include former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams, as well as wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr. out of Ohio State.
Some of the most recent mock drafts and reports have connected Chicago to Williams multiple times. But where does that leave their current quarterback?
The Bears current starting quarterback is Justin Fields, whom the Bears selected with the 11th overall selection back in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Fields began his collegiate career with Georgia, then eventually transferred to Ohio State where he threw for over 5,000 yards across two seasons, and completed a whopping 63 touchdown passes. He also recorded 19 rushing touchdowns in college football.
Fields is a very unique quarterback that shows many physical attributes that not a ton of quarterbacks in the NFL show on the field. His elite rushing ability allows him to get outside the pocket and make plays, which can make him a dangerous quarterback for any opponent.
While Fields is a very dynamic runner, there’s one specific area that he needs to improve in: turnovers. In his three years as a professional, he’s registered 38 total fumbles and thrown 30 interceptions. So if he is to improve, this is one specific area that he could work on.
One of the options the Bears could do at quarterback is to trade Fields for draft compensation, and then draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 Pick. Some might ask, “Why would you draft another quarterback if you already have Justin Fields?”
But when you look at Williams, he’s one of the best quarterback prospects we’ve seen coming out of the draft. He’s also got insane arm talent and great pocket awareness.
But although Fields is a great quarterback, it may be impossible to pass up on a guy like Williams who could be a generational player at the quarterback position for many years to come.
We shall see what’s to come next, in an already thrilling offseason.
NFL Draft: Quince Orchard is represented
The NFL Draft is a bit over a month away, and there is so much drama and uncertainty surrounding the draft.
The 2nd overall pick is a debate, assuming the Bears go with Caleb Williams at #1, the Washington Commanders will have to choose between Drake Maye, a quarterback out of North Carolina, and Jayden Daniels, a quarterback from LSU who just won the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football. Both have incredible talent and have the chance to get picked at #2.
There is also a debate for who will get wide receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr., a generational prospect out of Ohio State. Currently, the betting favorites to land Harrison are the Arizona Cardinals, who hold the 4th pick. Other teams in contention to land Harrison include the Chicago Bears, if they decide to retain Justin Fields, and the New England Patriots.
The position that sparks the most interest in NFL Draft talks is of course quarterback. USC’s Caleb Williams is the undisputed best quarterback in the class, as he is regarded as a generational prospect, but there are many other talented quarterbacks expecting their name to be called. Drake Maye out of North Carolina has the physical traits and tools to be the first overall pick, and LSU’s Heisman winner Jayden Daniels could also be the first overall pick in another draft class.
Quince Orchard’s own Demeioun “Chop” Robinson ‘21 is also an intriguing prospect in this draft. Robinson, a defensive end, played his freshman season at Maryland, and then transferred to Penn State for his sophomore and junior seasons—and thrived. At the NFL Combine, Robinson showed out, running a 4.49 second 40 yard-dash. Most draft analysts see Robinson being taken in the late first round, or early second round. Regardless of who drafts Robinson, it’s going to be very thrilling having a recent Quince Orchard alumnus in the NFL.
Other notable prospects in this class include Brock Bowers, who played at Georgia as a tight end; Malik Nabers, a wide receiver from LSU; and Joe Alt, an offensive tackle from Notre Dame. All of these players are expected to be called early on the first night of the NFL Draft, which takes place on Thursday, April 25 in Detroit.
Free Agency & Coaching Hires
A very busy free agency began on March 13, where fans’ notifications were filled with NFL news. Many big moves were made, including the Atlanta Falcons signing Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four year deal, worth $180 million!
Secondly, a whopping eight NFL teams hired new coaches. Most notably, the Washington Commanders hired Cowboys Defensive Coordinator, Dan Quinn, a move that ultimately polarized the fan base.
March 2024
The Prowler 