Pro Football Focus has a regular list of the highest-graded passers on their website. This preseason, there were familiar names you’d expect at the top. Kenny Pickett, Daniel Jones, and Patrick Mahomes were up there. So was Baker Mayfield. The, tucked away right there at the 10th overall spot, was Tyson Bagent. One of these is not like the other. The rest of the top 10 were filled with stars, former 1st round picks, higher draft choices, and veterans. Bagent was an undrafted rookie. That should help explain how impressive he was for the Chicago Bears.
He finished the preseason 20-of-29 for 156 yards and an interception. He ran three times for 25 yards and two touchdowns while having a touchdown pass dropped. The performance was so impressive that the Bears felt comfortable cutting their originally planned backup quarterback, P.J. Walker. It marked the first time since Caleb Hanie in 2008 that an undrafted QB made the main roster. What made it so impressive was how Bagent operated. He didn’t look like a rookie. He looked like a 10-year veteran, making checks at the line, going through his progressions, staying poised in the pocket, and delivering accurate passes.
The guy looks like he belongs in the NFL. While that in itself is exciting, people are missing the bigger picture of what this could mean for the Bears.
Tyson Bagent indicates Bears can finally evaluate quarterbacks.
GM Ryan Poles credited director of player personnel Jeff King and northeast area scout Tom Bradway for pounding the table to acquire Bagent. He wisely listened to them. This is the first quarterback the Bears have secured from the college ranks under Poles’ watch. Even if he only ends up being a backup, that is a massive win for the organization. It also indicates they have people in charge who understand how to evaluate the position properly. That is no small thing for those who remember this team’s history.
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- Justin Fields
- Mitch Trubisky
- David Fales
- Nathan Enderle
- Dan LeFevour
- Kyle Orton
- Craig Krenzel
- Rex Grossman
- Cade McNown
- Moses Moreno
- Paul Justin
- Peter Tom Willis
- Brent Snyder
- Jim Harbaugh
- Mark Casale
- Jim McMahon
- Tim Clifford
- Turk Schonert
- Vince Evans
- Bob Avellini
- Alan Chadwick
- Joe Barnes
- Craig Holland
- Gary Huff
- Jim Fassel
- Buddy Lee
- Ron Maciejowski
- Bobby Cutburth
- Bobby Douglass
- Virgil Carter
- Ron Meyer
Above is a list of every QB the Bears have drafted in the Super Bowl era.
How many would you say met or exceeded expectations? Jim McMahon and Kyle Orton are the only ones who have cases. Everybody else was a bust or a disappointment. Justin Fields is, of course, still an uncertainty. His fate will likely be determined this season. If he plays well, the Bears have nothing to worry about. They have their guy. However, if he falters, the 2024 off-season becomes a must-see. Poles has two 1st round picks stashed away for next year. It becomes almost certain he will target a quarterback.
Now we know because of Tyson Bagent that this team is run by people who can identify what the good ones are supposed to look like. Poles and co-director of player personnel Trey Koziol come from Kansas City, where they drafted Patrick Mahomes. Assistant GM Ian Cunningham was in Philadelphia when they drafted Jalen Hurts. King is a former NFL tight end who played with Jake Delhomme and Carson Palmer.
If the Bears do decide to go quarterback hunting next year, they may finally have the right people in charge to get the franchise guy this team desperately needs.
