The Senior Bowl practices are still a few weeks away, and the first round of the playoffs has already concluded, but the draft gurus are stepping forward a little too soon.

The Bears are expected to select the USC quarterback and cut ties with Justin Fields, according to both longtime ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Dan Brugler of The Athletic. This could be due to Caleb Williams’ draft declaration.

Nor are they disclosing it; instead, they are merely stating—based on their experience, situational awareness, and evaluation of available draft prospects—that the Bears should anticipate losing Fields.

Kiper added that he believes there’s a chance the Bears will receive a first-round selection in exchange for Fields, however Brugler is a little less certain about the starting quarterback for the Bears.

As Kiper put it, “This was a difficult decision.” “I went back and forth.”

Kiper acknowledged that Fields had advantages.

“But when I came to the conclusion after going back and studying, Caleb Williams, that’s the guy to take,” Kiper stated on ESPN.

“Sensational quarterback two years ago, early this year, then he had some issues from really that Arizona game, the Notre Dame game on,” Kiper stated. Ultimately, though, when you look at his entire body of work, his arm skill, his field vision, and his instincts as a quarterback, we say, ‘It’s an unknown with Caleb Williams, but people say it’s a known with Justin Fields.'” No, it isn’t. Whether Justin Fields can be a franchise quarterback is still up in the air. It’s true that there are unknowns regarding Caleb. Justin is likewise in the dark about it. I will thus reset the clock. Caleb Williams will go with me.”

Fields “…did them a favour by looking so good (at year’s end),” according to Kiper, who also stated that Fields may fetch the Bears a decent price in a trade. Fields’ actions made the Bears successful. Justin Fields had to appear impressive and demonstrate a lot of promise as a dual-threat quarterback.”

Brugler was on WSCR-AM 670’s Mully & Haugh Show with replacement hosts Gabe Ramirez and Marshall Harris and, similar with Kiper, highlighted to the financial issue of going with Year 1 on a QB contract as opposed to paying Fields with a contract extension.

“It’s about resetting the quarterback clock and with Justin Fields it’s not quite that way,” Brugler stated.

Brugler gave Fields’ play a little more criticism.

Speaking with Gabe Ramirez and Marshall Harris, the replacement hosts on WSCR-AM 670’s Mully & Haugh Show, Brugler brought up the financial disadvantage of signing Year 1’s QB contract rather than paying Fields through an extension. This was similar to what Kiper said.

“It’s about resetting the quarterback clock and with Justin Fields it’s not quite that way,” said Brugler.