Maybe the Bears were able to add Russell Wilson after all.
Six weeks after they made an offer for the Seahawks’ all-world quarterback but were rebuffed by a win-now administration, the Bears traded up to draft Ohio State passer Justin Fields in April. The rocket-armed rookie with a gorgeous, arcing deep ball and the athleticism to outrun NFL hungry defenders invoked Wilson’s name a few days after the draft, saying he’d turned into “more to a Russell Wilson-type quarterback.” Fields said he also wanted to lead like Wilson, who’s won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and one Super Bowl.
Thursday, someone else made the connection. Tight end Jimmy Graham was asked about Fields and, unprompted, compared him to Wilson.
“Definitely reminds me a lot of Russell Wilson,” tight end Jimmy Graham said.
That’s no throwaway compliment. Graham played alongside Wilson for three seasons, totaling 170 catches and 2,048 yards. He knows great quarterbacks, too, having caught passes from the Saints’ Drew Brees before Wilson and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers after.
He knows quarterbacks. At Halas Hall, the Bears, unsurprisingly, put his locker next to Fields’.
“Man, I love the kid …” Graham said. “Man, he wants to be good. He wants to be great. He puts in the work. The guy really can throw the ball. That’s been impressive to see his arm strength.
“At some point I’ve got to get him matched up at some point with a guy up there in Seattle. Especially, you know, the ability to make plays while you’re running, I think he’s going to have – it’s been impressive to see him so young, so focused.”
