The 2021 NFL Draft was very kind to the Chicago Bears and went a long way in re-endearing general manager Ryan Pace to fans after a tumultuous first five years. The highlight was Pace trading up nine spots (from 20th to 11th) select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Not content with another swing at finding a franchise passer, the Bears went on to select offensive linemen with their next two picks. He had to give up draft capital to move up for the first two picks. But he made out better than usual and came away with what might be his best class yet:<\/p>\n
Chicago Bears 2021 NFL Draft Grade: 9.5\/10<\/b><\/p>\nChicago Bears 2021 NFL Draft Review<\/h2>\n
The Best Player: Justin Fields<\/h4>\n
Matt Nagy got his<\/i> guy. This instead of the guy he could get (Nick Foles<\/a> or Andy Dalton<\/a>) or was stuck with (Mitchell Trubisky<\/a>). Fields began the draft process as the clear number-two passer in this class behind Trevor Lawrence<\/a>. Narratives caused him to slide behind Zach Wilson<\/a> and Trey Lance<\/a> in the draft. It was the worst kept secret in the NFL that the Bears being in the market for a quarterback. But even they had to be giddy when he fell outside of the top 10 picks.<\/p>\n Fields is a dynamic quarterback like no other in Bears history. He led the Big Ten in passing yards and touchdowns both years at Ohio State. He also won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors after both campaigns. After losing to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl as a sophomore, he exacted revenge on Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers, beating them in the CFP Semi-Finals. His leadership was on full display last year as he joined Lawrence in fighting to have a college football season.<\/p>\n At 6-foot-3 and 227 lbs, Fields is built like another Nagy protege: Patrick Mahomes<\/a>. The similarities don\u2019t stop there as both come from schools not known for producing NFL quarterbacks. And scramble to pass rather than take off and run despite being athletically gifted. Of course, there\u2019s only one Patrick Mahomes.<\/p>\n Four years after trading up to take Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft, Ryan Pace got another bite at the apple. He once again traded up, sending the New York Giants the 20th overall pick, their fifth-rounder this year, and next year\u2019s first and fourth. It\u2019s a steep price but they used it on a proven product as opposed to a project, at least to the scale of the last guy.<\/p>\n [pickup_prop id=”6739″]<\/p>\n In what was almost a perfect draft for the Bears and, in particular, Ryan Pace, they opted against drafting a safety. They have former All-Pro Eddie Jackson<\/a> and re-signed Tashaun Gipson<\/a> as their starters. But there are no potential future starters among Deon Bush<\/a>, DeAndre Houston-Carson<\/a>, Jordan Lucas<\/a>, and Marqui Christian<\/a>. Add to that, Gipson is on a one-year deal and will be 31 when the season kicks off.<\/p>\n Again it was a nearly perfect draft, all things considered, with almost every pick addressing a need with good value. Almost. The Khalil Herbert pick is…interesting to say the least. With David Montgomery<\/a> coming off of his first 1000-yard rushing season, having signed Damien Williams<\/a> this off-season, and with Tarik Cohen<\/a> returning from a torn ACL, Herbert feels like a luxury pick in a draft where Bears picks were at a premium.<\/p>\n Instead of Herbert, the Bears could have taken JaCoby Stevens out of LSU. He profiles as more of a hybrid linebacker and safety. Perhaps that led to their passing him. But some of his issues in coverage were due to putting on weight and playing slower last season.<\/p>\n In Herbert\u2019s defense, the Bears took Newsome before Stevens too. But the need was there. Herbert was fairly one-dimensional in college, catching just 10 passes as a senior. It will be interesting to see him display that part of his game in the preseason. It\u2019s also not like he\u2019s a bad runner, this just seemed like a rare unnecessary pick for Pace in this draft.<\/p>\n We were well aware of the possibility of the Bear looking to move up for a quarterback should one begin to fall. The move to go get Fields was surprising given Pace\u2019s track record and what some presumed was a tenuous hold on his job. Ditto for Matt Nagy. Moving up again for Jenkins was completely unexpected. Especially given what transpired the night before. But it also put to bed the notion that Pace and Nagy were on shaky ground. This is a three to four-year window, at least.<\/p>\n Maybe it shouldn\u2019t be all that much of a surprise. Bears ownership has shown no signs of being displeased with the job their general manager or the head coach has done in the past three years together. We\u2019ve seen them brush off questions over the length of their contracts when asked directly before. This time they did it without saying a word.<\/p>\n The risks here are obvious. You\u2019ve entrusted the general manager who blew it once when trading up for a quarterback and the head coach who didn\u2019t exactly coach to the last guy\u2019s strengths (however limited those might be) last season. Obviously, with Nagy having a say in the process this time around, the hope is the results are much closer to those of Kansas City, Nagy\u2019s old stomping grounds, than their own.<\/p>\n If both moves pay off, the Bears have just solved their longest-standing issue. Even Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon<\/a> wouldn\u2019t be described as a \u201cgreat\u201d quarterback. Jay Cutler<\/a> and Trubisky just couldn\u2019t get it done. There\u2019s far less risk in Jenkins who\u2019s big and as nasty as they come on the right side of the offensive line.<\/p>\n Speaking of Jenkins, he\u2019s easily the steal of the Bears haul. How is that possible when the Bears traded up to get him, forfeiting precious draft capital in the process? Because many had him going in the first round with some even mocking him to the Bears had they kept the 20th pick. It was a nice win for both the \u201cneed\u201d and \u201cvalue\u201d crowds.<\/p>\n There were a few reasons this move was even possible. First, the run on quarterbacks, which the Bears were a part of, pushed several skill players down the draft. That, in turn, pushed the (non-left tackle) linemen down too. Most view Jenkins as a plug-and-play right tackle. Some even have him as a guard. But he has experience at left tackle as well. The Bears also employ respected offensive line coach Juan Castillo.<\/p>\n The best part of the Jenkins pick is the player himself. \u201cI feel like I\u2019m a first-round talent,\u201d Jenkins said<\/a>. \u201cRegardless of where I went, I\u2019m not mad about it. I\u2019m not going to lose any sleep about it…I\u2019m going to be able to make sure everybody rue that day they didn\u2019t pick me.\u201d The league just made that chip on his shoulder a little bigger. And that\u2019s one of his tamer quotes.<\/p>\n Most won\u2019t expect much from Dazz Newsome as a sixth-round pick on a team with some talented receivers. Especially given the success of former sixth-rounder Riley Ridley<\/a> in his first two seasons. But Newsome comes in having been very productive for the Tar Heels. He had 72 catches for over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. And he still managed to reel in 54 balls for 684 yards and six scores as a senior. He also rushed for one touchdown.<\/p>\n Newsome\u2019s arrival should be a wake-up call to fourth-year man Anthony Miller<\/a>. Newsome built similarly and profiles much in the way Miller did coming out as a smaller typer better suited to operate on the interior. They even clocked identical 4.38 times in the 40-yard dash.<\/p>\n What Newsome lacks in Miller\u2019s route-running ability, though Miller himself too often lacks the focus to be effective. There were reports of the Bears shopping Miller this off-season. He got tossed from the playoff game last season after a dust-up with a Saints player so it\u2019s not far-fetched to think that Newsome could have a hand in expediting Miller\u2019s departure. At the very least he should add some juice to the return game with Cordarrelle Patterson<\/a> gone.<\/p>\n Missouri\u2019s Larry Borom played tackle in college but a lack of athleticism could see him kick inside to guard. He\u2019s a powerful, massive prospect but his conditioning has come into question. Even with that, he was able to produce for the Tigers. As a bonus, Borom and Fields worked out together in California leading up to the draft.<\/p>\n Thomas Graham Jr is only an average athlete at cornerback but the Bears are retooling the position following the release of Kyle Fuller<\/a>. He doesn\u2019t move well laterally so he won\u2019t spend much time in the slot where Buster Skrine<\/a> used to play. He isn\u2019t at the top of the opportunity flow chart, but he\u2019s on there.<\/p>\n Khyiris Tonga is a nose tackle prospect and, for anyone who doubted the value of Eddie Goldman<\/a> before last year, they will certainly appreciate this addition. Now, Goldman should be back. But clearly, quality depth at the position was an issue and Tonga is certainly capable of filling that role out of the gates.<\/p>\n Main Photo:The Head Scratcher: Passing on Safety<\/h4>\n
The Surprise: Trading Up…Twice<\/h4>\n
The Steal: Teven Jenkins<\/h4>\n
Most Likely to Turn Head During Training Camp: Dazz Newsome<\/h4>\n
The Rest<\/h4>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>