The Chicago Bears, originally slated to pick 20th overall, stunned everyone and moved up to take Justin Fields of Ohio State 11th overall. Entering the 2021 NFL Draft, there was no consensus as to whom their selection would be. After tons of speculation, they made the move up many suspected (and even hoped) they would. What makes this swing at fixing the quarterback position different from the last time?
Justin Fields Lands in Chicago after Bears Brass Collaborates
What Just(in) Happened?
Immediately after Fields slid outside of the top 10, the Bears wound up striking a deal with the New York Giants. They sent the 20th pick along with a fifth-rounder this year as well as next year’s first and fifth-round picks.
It’s a hefty sum, and the Bears are trusting that Ryan Pace isn’t just repeating his mistake from 2017. Perhaps you’ve heard, that’s when he selected Mitchell Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. In his defense, several teams passed on both. None of them traded up one spot for Trubisky though.
The move gives Bears fans hope as Andy Dalton was certainly not the long-term solution, despite the team’s public messaging. Again, all of this after an off-season full of so many conflicting reports. At one point the Bears were reportedly front-runners for a quarterback they never even made an offer for.
What it Means
The move also affirms the notions of many that neither Pace nor head coach Matt Nagy was ever on the hot seat this season. Not only is ownership entrusting them to bring along their presumed next franchise quarterback, but they signed off on the trading of future assets to obtain him. That’s about as ringing of an endorsement as you can get in this business.
Nagy gets his quarterback after being saddled with Trubisky, whom he claimed was part of his reasoning behind taking the job. Their relationship (or lack thereof) was probably certified over once Nagy took the first opportunity he had to bench the former third-overall pick for Nick Foles.
Dalton had better keep Mike Glennon’s cell on speed dial because he’s not long for the Bears starting job. Glennon was able to hold off a much less polished Trubisky for all of four games. Dalton does have a better resume but, one would imagine, also a weaker grasp on the job. Nick Foles is also still around but he is probably on the next thing smoking out of town.
What They’re Getting
You don’t need to be told about the physical traits, but at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds, and running a 4.44 40-yard dash, Fields is a specimen. Oh, and he’s got a pretty good arm too. He finished his collegiate career with just over 5700 passing yards and 67 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He completed 68.7 percent of his passes in two years at Ohio State.
That production tells a level of experience that the Bears last first-round passer lacked. Fields also displayed a level of leadership not many college athletes have a chance to when he fought to have a season after COVID threatened to wipe it out completely.
“Red flags” over his passion for football were quickly quelled from all corners, as they should be. We’re talking about a guy that suffered through a rib issue to outplay this year’s first-overall pick, Trevor Lawrence. As he said himself, he performs his best in the biggest moments on the biggest stages.
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What They Need
Landing Fields wasn’t the end of the Bears fortunes on Thursday. The draft has shaken out in such a way that they have a really good shot at a quality lineman or even a wide receiver in the second round. It won’t be lost on Bears fans that Pace managed to maneuver his way up without mortgaging too much in either of the next two drafts.
An off-season that was full of rumors and “collaboration” might have finally given them what they’ve so desperately needed for most of their existence. The only question now is how long until they’re “Justin Fields’ Bears”?
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