So many things factored into the Chicago Bears’ pursuit of Justin Fields. One that still isn’t talked about enough is how other teams simply didn’t try hard enough to get him. Perhaps the most telling example of this is the Minnesota Vikings. It came out shortly after the draft that their division rival really liked the Ohio State QB. Enough to where they absolutely would’ve taken him at #14 overall and were also willing to consider moving up for him.
It didn’t happen. Why? The obvious answer is they weren’t willing to offer enough to convince other teams to make a deal. At last, we have video evidence to support this. The Carolina Panthers released a video covering the entire process of their NFL draft including the action in the 1st round. Shortly before they selected cornerback Jaycee Horn at 8th overall, they received a call from Minnesota. When GM Scott Fitterer heard the offer?
Well, just watch.
Fitterer didn’t even need a few seconds to think about it. In his mind, that offer was insulting. Minnesota was asking him to essentially give up the shortlist of players he really wanted in exchange for 2nd and 3rd round picks. That was never going to cut it. One can surmise from this video that Minnesota got similar answers from all the other teams they called picking ahead of them. Their offers just weren’t good enough.
When GM Ryan Pace finally swung his deal with New York to grab the 11th pick, the reaction in Minnesota’s draft room was said to have been “stunned.” Not only did they miss out on the QB they wanted, they suddenly discovered they’ll have to play him twice a year. A short time later they traded back to #23 where they settled for a new left tackle in Christian Darrisaw. As for the quarterback question? They ended up grabbing Texas A&M standout Kellen Mond early in the 3rd round.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW5MI3JknoM&t=4s
Justin Fields could enhance Minnesota’s misery further
Keep in mind the Bears have had the Vikings’ number the past couple of years. They’re 5-1 against them since 2018. This was with Mitch Trubisky, Chase Daniel, and Nick Foles as their quarterbacks. If Fields ends up being anywhere close to as good as many believe he can? Minnesota could end up enjoying their matchups with Chicago even less than they already have.
What could make it sting even worse is the fact that Aaron Rodgers might finally be out of the NFC North. Landing Justin Fields had the chance to put the Viking in long-term control of the division what with the Bears being stuck with Andy Dalton (at the time) and Detroit Lions Jared Goff. Nobody is ready to say Jordan Love will be anything close to what Rodgers was.
They better hope Fields is another bust.
If he is that is going to be a draft moment that haunts them for the next 15 years. Fans will be wondering how different it might’ve been had GM Rick Spielman stopped pick-pinching for once in his life and paid the asking price to finally get a quarterback that could get his team to the mountaintop.