MVP Candidate Leading Much-Improved Team

Analysts from across the web have seen big things ahead for the Bears, including even ESPN's Dan Orlovsky.

The Bears are reaping the hype reward from an offseason of constant motion by GM Ryan Poles.

They're being labeled everything from drastically improved to having a quarterback who should be in the running for MVP.

The33rdteam.com, the same website that thought they should trade Justin Fields in the past, has the Bears as the second most improved team in the NFL. Even more surprising, it's former Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings who is reported to have authored this notion.

"The Chicago Bears made a key decision prior to the draft, deciding to build the team around QB Justin Fields," Jennings says. "When they traded out of having the No. 1 pick, it made a statement right out of the gate that the Bears (were) Fields' team."

Pro Football Focus doesn't have the Bears rated in lofty company and, in fact, they have the Bears ranked last out of the four NFC North teams. However, in their post-draft power rankings they do have the Bears rated 19th overall. That's not bad considering they were in the bottom three through much of the end of the last season.

Look for them to move up even more by the time training camp ends.

"The Bears added to their defensive line by drafting Gervon Dexter Sr., Zacch Pickens and Travis Bell," Amelia Probst and Arjun Menon wrote. "Pickens recorded an 11.5% pass-rush win rate in 2022. Finally, Chicago traded up for Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, whose 88.5 press coverage grade ranked second among FBS cornerbacks in this year’s draft."

Perhaps the most shocking pronouncement came from ESPN's Dan Orlovsky.

Orlovsky once questioned Fields' work ethic and then later admitted he was wrong.

On NFL Live Monday, Orlovsky called Fields a player who will be in the MVP conversation.

That's not bad for a guy with a questionable work ethic.

Orlovsky doesn't think Fields will win it because he doesn't see their roster as good enough to provde all the help an MVP winner needs.

The really interesting part of what he said about Fields was something not brought up much. The scheme could wind up making Fields even better than he is.

"So we're watching an offense that traditionally it's just a Mike shananhan, Kyle Shananan, Gary Kubiak offense that Luke Getsy, their play caller, runs," Orlovsky said. "Traditionally it props quarterbacks up a little bit. That's just the way it is."

If that is the case, perhaps Fields really will be in the running for MVP because his own individual talent propped up a poorly staffed team last year and it's greatly improved now. A scheme that elevates the QB would only make him all the better.

"OK, so we now have an offense that does that, that now has this incredible athlete that is going to even elevate the offense," he said. "That doesn't happen a lot in this scheme."

Yet, Orlovsky pointed some criticism at Fields. It was constructive criticism.

"The last thing I'll say about this situation is this, is Justin has to get the ball out of his hands quicker physically, not mentally, physically."

Fields had the ball out of his hand an average of 3.12 seconds last year according to NextGen Stats.

That's the same amount of time Jalen Hurts took in his second year before improving to 2.76 seconds this past season.

If Fields gets rid of it quicker, Orlovsky said to expect "MVP level football."

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven