The Chicago Bears made arguably the biggest splash of the 2021 draft. That came when they jumped up nine spots from #20 to #11 in a deal with the New York Giants. There they selected Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. The reaction from fans told the story. Those in the building were ecstatic. Even those attending a White Sox game had a big reaction. For the first time, it genuinely felt like the Bears got it right.
Fields did nothing but win in his two years for the Buckeyes. He made the college football playoffs both seasons, threw just nine interceptions total, and accounted for 78 total touchdowns in 22 games. Just absurd productivity in one of the best conferences out there. He’s 6’3, runs a 4.41 in the 40, and has the kind of arm that will laugh at the Soldier Field winds. Physically he’s the total package.
As with any young QB, can he handle the NFL’s speed?
That is to be determined. So it’s obvious fans are loving the pick. What about the experts? Plenty of prominent draft analysts posted their grades for the 1st round after the action concluded Thursday night. Chicago has a history of getting a mixed reaction from most of them on whoever they pick. Such was not the case this time around. The Bears aced it.
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SB Nation
“There’s room for Fields to develop, and he is an elite player in the making who has been compared to Dak Prescott. That’s a good thing.”
Grade: A+
NFL.com
“He is a leader and strong-armed passer who will give the Bears the difference-maker at quarterback that they have missed for many, many years.”
Grade: A+
USA Today
“Fields is a complete prospect who could put the Bears over the top. It’s a steal of a pick, and they didn’t even have to give up a ton of draft capital to make it happen.”
Grade: A+
Walter Football
“I imagine they’re absolutely shocked that Justin Fields is still on the board. He’s arguably the second-best quarterback in this class. For my money he is.”
Grade: A+
Bleacher Report
“Fields is a great example of a multi-year starter being overanalyzed when the good clearly outweighs the questionable aspects of his game. His traits show a quarterback capable of excelling in the pros.”
Grade: A+
Pro Football Network
“The selection of Justin Fields for the Chicago Bears gives us the second of our A+ grades so far in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft. Fields was the QB2 on many people’s boards and a long shot to get outside of the top 10 by a lot of people.”
Grade: A+
That seems pretty decent. It’s obvious a lot of experts felt more than a little surprised that Fields fell out of the top 10. Most presumed he’d drop no further than the 8th or 9th spot with Carolina and Denver. After slipping past both of them, that no doubt increased the urgency for Chicago to move. They finally found a willing partner in the New York Giants, who received a 5th round pick this year along with 1st and 4th round picks next year. If Fields pans out as hoped? That will be looked upon as a steal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p1ArgGtX8E&ab_channel=QuangVictory
Justin Fields knows the challenge in front of him
He’s no stranger to being doubted. The original plans were for him to be the main guy at Georgia. It was his home state school. A potential dream come true. However, after not getting any signs he was slated to be the starter, he decided to transfer out in 2019. It took a legal battle with the NCAA to secure immediate eligibility to play once he arrived at Ohio State. Then he went out his first year and threw over 40 touchdowns.
What makes it even crazier is almost everybody had Fields penciled in as the #2 pick behind Trevor Lawrence all of 2019. If he’d sat out in 2020, that probably would not have changed. Instead, he battled the Big Ten to get football played despite the pandemic, had a great year, and reached the national championship. His reward? Falling all the way to #11.
Perhaps fate has finally intervened. It takes somebody of strong mind to play in Chicago. Nobody can deny Justin Fields is a gritty young man. He’s proved people wrong for years. Now he gets to do it on one of the biggest stages in the sport.