Keyshawn Johnson’s NFL Draft Plan for How to Save Justin Fields and the Bears Makes a Lot of Sense

Retired star wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson has an interesting take on how the Chicago Bears should approach the 2024 NFL Draft.

During an appearance on FS1’s Undisputed on Tuesday, Johnson said he believes the Bears should pass on taking a quarterback like USC’s Caleb Williams with the potential first overall pick in the draft and stick with Justin Fields as the team’s signal-caller. Instead of a new QB, Johnson says he’d give Fields a potential star receiver to throw to, drafting Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with a top pick.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs off the field after beating the Minnesota Vikings last Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

“I like the fascination about Caleb Williams. He’s great, Heisman trophy [winner] at USC, but no, they should not [draft him]” Johnson said. “What has [Justin Fields] done that’s so egregious, with all the different stuff that’s going on in Chicago, that you want to move on from him in Year 2 [in the system]... Situations and circumstances are important with young quarterbacks. Until you get something and put them around that that will make them successful, you are always going to scratch your head.”

.@keyshawn says the Bears should keep Justin Fields and draft Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 1: pic.twitter.com/RIU6JaVZaN

— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) November 28, 2023

Providing Fields with a second potential elite pass-catcher to go with D.J. Moore would without a doubt be a huge boost to the Chicago offense. The question is whether that’s worth passing up on a potential franchise-changing player at quarterback in the process. Johnson, for what it’s worth, was the last receiver to go No. 1 overall back in 1996, and perhaps his love for the receiver position could be shaping his opinion here.

“Caleb [Williams] is going to be in the same situation. He’s going to a bad team in a bad situation,” Johnson said. “I’m going to trust Ryan Poles to do the right thing in terms of using these picks smartly.”

The Bears have both their own pick and the Carolina Panthers’ choice, which gives them some flexibility at the top of the draft. Depending on where those two picks fall, there may even be an avenue to draft both Williams and Harrison Jr. Regardless, the idea of Chicago passing on a QB certainly had fans talking.

This situation continues to evolve, but I think the odds of Poles/Eberflus/Fields returning next year is climbing. https://t.co/unL98kTFZI

— Greg Braggs Jr. (@GBraggsJr23) November 28, 2023

“Situations and circumstances are important with young QBs” ‼️‼️‼️‼️ https://t.co/S1nh1EmP4R

— 🤐 (@MightyTae_) November 28, 2023

Keyshawn making sense. MHJ should be the number 1 guy. I agree that Fields is like majority of young QB’s where situation matters and they need multiple weapons. It’s nothing wrong with that very few QB’s where it doesn’t matter. Only like 2 of them. https://t.co/jqDWaUonSW

— KingMac74 (@Mac74King) November 28, 2023

Keyshawn is literally saying the EXACT same thing I’ve been saying for months. Give him weapons, let him develop with those weapons & watch out!! (Half a DJ Moore on the other side!!🤣😂) https://t.co/GEsTj7UJug

— Shawn Sierra (@TheShawnSierra) November 28, 2023

Completely agree. The Bears lack a taller receiver on the outside and Marvin Harrison Jr. is a generational talent https://t.co/rH1FR3KtXM

— BGreen (@BGZ2013) November 28, 2023