Justin Fields is the starter for the Chicago Bears. That is not something to discuss. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus made that clear. However, that doesn’t make it a foregone conclusion it will stay that way long-term. Nobody can predict how things will go for Fields. It isn’t a crime for the team to maybe want to hedge their bets by adding some young talent at the position. Especially if he’s cheap. Enter Chris Oladokun.
Last month, the Bears had met with the South Dakota State quarterback. According to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus, they’ve now met with him a second time. One meeting is standard procedure. Two is usually a good indication a team has a significant interest in a player. Oladokun stood out in several ways in 2021, throwing for 3,164 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The fact he did this on a new team after missing all of 2020 because of the pandemic makes it even more impressive.
South Dakota State QB Chris Oladokun had virtual visits with the #Bears and #Eagles today, per source. This is the second time he's met with Chicago.
Oladokun is an interesting under-the-radar QB prospect.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) April 13, 2022
Unheralded quarterbacks are a tricky animal.
The vast majority of them never pan out. Still, there are exceptions. If the player has enough talent and drive, they can often emerge if given the right circumstances. Chris Oladokun has plenty to offer. He’s 6’2 with a good arm, solid accuracy, and above-average mobility. When given a clean pocket, he’s thrown some dimes. The problems are his erratic fundamentals and inability to maintain poise under pressure.
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Such things can be corrected with coaching, which may explain why the Bears are interested in him. With Fields in place, they’d have the benefit of taking their time developing Oladokun. He could become a solid backup for them by next year and, with some luck, a possible insurance policy if the Fields experiment falters. This is what smart teams do. Always invest in a position even if it seems settled.
Oladokun could be a late round pick later this month, but it is more likely he’ll be an undrafted free agent. By meeting him multiple times, the Bears have positioned themselves to be a destination he chooses to sign if that proves true.
