Justin Fields will have one final game to show the Chicago Bears why he should remain their franchise quarterback in a Week 18 clash with the Green Bay Packers.

The next phase of his career is completely up to the Bears front office now, who will need to decide this offseason whether or not to keep Fields or trade him away and draft his replacement.

Fields looked better in Year 3 than he did in his previous two combined in Chicago, and that progression has been enough to prove to NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger that the narrative around Fields’ ability to diagnose a defense is false.

“I don’t want to hear anybody tell me he can’t read a defense,” Baldinger said. “That guy has improved and he’s a legitimate big-time thrower right now.”

"I don't want to hear anybody tell me this guy can't read a defense. He's improved and is a legitimate big time thrower" – @BaldyNFL had a lot to say about Justin Fields, where the #bears are right now and where they are headed. THIS, from The NFL Report, is a must see! pic.twitter.com/82fcStIpdg

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 5, 2024

Fields is on pace to have a career year this season and very well could remain the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2024.

However, his play might not have been good enough to deter Chicago from drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick when there are two solid options at the top of the draft board in USC’s Caleb Williams and UNC’s Drake Maye.

Another team may covet Fields, as well, which could be enough to entice the Bears to trade Fields away, rake in a little draft capital in the process, and still go out and find a younger replacement who will also be on a cheaper contract for longer.

Regardless, it appears as though Fields has done enough in three years under center to at least shake off the criticisms he endured earlier in his career.

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