All the drama of where former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields goes in the 2021 NFL draft is finally over. He is now a Chicago Bear and it seems the entire Windy City has been swept up with Fields’ fever. The city and personality of the former Heisman finalist should be a match made on Lakeshore Drive heaven.
And while many are on the edge of their seats in anticipation for what the rookie can do, the Bears’ brass has laid out a plan for the No. 11 overall pick to be developed behind named starter Andy Dalton. But how long will that last? Especially if Chicago piles up too many losses on top of the heads of a coach and general manager that have jobs on the line.
USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz doesn’t buy it. He thinks Fields will be a part of the blueprint of the offense sooner rather than later. In fact, Middlehust-Schwartz identified 17 rookies he believes will make the biggest impact during the 2021-2022 season, and Fields is among them.
Here’s what the USA TODAY writer says about Fields.
NEXT … Justin Fields as an impact rookie this year
Justin Fields — A Chicago difference-maker in year one
What Middlehurst-Schwartz Says
“With GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy under pressure to win now, how long can they afford to sit the rookie? Andy Dalton isn’t Mike Glennon, but he’s not 2017 Alex Smith, either — and this offense is a far cry from the one Nagy coordinated in Kansas City when Patrick Mahomes was able to sit as a rookie. While Dalton seems likely to begin the year as a starter, it’s probably a pipe dream for him to finish it that way if Chicago is to remain competitive. When the time comes, Fields has proven himself a deadly accurate passer who avoids turnovers and makes things happen off-script — all elements that the Bears are in need of.”
NEXT … What we say
Justin Fields — A Chicago difference-maker in year one?
What We Say
It’s hard to believe Chicago can go the entire year with the No. 11 pick in the draft sitting on the pine while Andy Dalton runs the show. At this point in his career, Dalton is not the answer, and it’s hard to see where the offense does enough to make this team a playoff contender.
Funnier things have happened, and somehow the Bears found their way in the postseason last year, but once things start to take a turn for the worse, Fields will find his way onto the field. If that can happen with Dwayne Haskins in Washington, it has a good chance of occurring in Chicago too.
The real question is how long it’ll take Fields to really make a difference in year one even with the keys to the offense.
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