Bears debating to go with Fields or draft a QB

Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus already endured one round of the Justin Fields debate.

He’s hoping, for everyone’s sake, the second round ends soon.

The man who has stood in Fields’ corner the past two seasons as others argued about whether to keep Fields or start over with a new quarterback, was answering those same, old questions about the No. 1 overall pick again at the NFL’S scouting combine.

“We have no big news for you today, we’re going through the process,” Eberflus said as the league’s coaches and general managers took center stage in Indianapolis. “If Justin’s coming back, we’ll have a plan in place for that. If we have a new quarterback, we’ll have a plan in place for that.”

Chicago’s decision is sure to make ripples — on its roster and perhaps around a league that places premium value on quarterbacks.

With what some consider a deep quarterback class, including three who could come off the board immediately in April’s draft, the teams holding those first three picks could lead to new starters — or plenty of trade possibilities.

And the Bears are right at the top, just as they were last year when they had the No. 1 pick and Fields. Eventually, they dealt the pick to Carolina for receiver D.J. Moore and four picks, including the one that put them back at No. 1 this year.

Sure they could do it all over again.

But after missing the playoffs in each of Fields’ first three seasons and no postseason wins since the 2010 season, the organization recognizes there’s a clamoring for change.

Chiefs creating some salary cap space

The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdesscantling, giving the Super Bowl champions some much-needed salary cap flexibility.

The moved would save the Chiefs $12 million that they could use to shore up their offense or help keep defensive stars Chris Jones and L’jarius Sneed next season.

The Chiefs gave Valdesscantling a three-year, $30 million deal two years ago in the hopes that Patrick Mahomes could turn the former Packers wide receiver into a viable deep threat. But while Valdesscantling

had memorable moments in Kansas City, including a TD catch in the Super Bowl, he was plagued by dropped passes and never put up the numbers the Chiefs expected of him.

He had 42 catches for 687 yards and two scores in 2022 and only 21 catches for 315 yards and a touchdown this past season.

Mccown is new Vikings QB coach

The Minnesota Vikings hired Josh Mccown, an 18-year NFL veteran who played for 12 teams, as their quarterbacks coach.

Chris O’hara, the quarterbacks coach for the Vikings in 2022-23, is now the pass game specialist. Mccown was quarterbacks coach for Carolina last season, his first as an NFL assistant.