Why did the Chicago Bears trade the No. 1 overall pick to Carolina Panthers? Chicago’s stunning move cements Justin Fields as QB1

The Chicago Bears traded away their first overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft to Carolina Panthers in exchange for picks and D.J. Moore due to their faith in Justin Fields.

Fields was the Bears' 2021 first-round pick, and he was anointed to lead the Bears to the Promised Land. As such, keeping the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft would have been pointless. So the Bears decided to stock up on draft assets and acquire the ideal wide receiver for Fields' playing style in D.J. Moore.

The Chicago Bears figured it would be pointless to develop a starting QB in the NFL for two years and then trade him away just as he was beginning to pick form. As such, it was a no-brainer that they would deal the number one pick, but the receiving team proved to be a shock.

With this trade, the Bears can plan for the future and acquire elite offensive linemen to protect their franchise QB, Justin Fields. This stunning move has more than cemented Fields' status as the Bears' QB1; it also places him as one of the few untouchables in the league.

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How did Justin Fields perform in the 2022 NFL season?

Justin Fields' sophomore season was one for the books, as the Chicago Bears franchise QB made great strides from his disappointing rookie year. Fields was a major reason the Bears looked even slightly competitive in the 2022 NFL season.

Anytime Justin Fields was off the field, the Bears looked lost, which showed in their 3-14 record for the season. As such, it would have been a major shock if the Bears decided to ditch the Ohio State University alum in exchange for a shiny new toy in the form of either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud.

Justin Fields performed admirably in the 2022 NFL season, where he made some strides as a passer, but his major improvements were evident in his run game. Fields put up a stat line of 2,242 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 15 games. He added 1,143 rushing yards (first among QBs) and eight touchdowns on the ground.