The Chicago Bears personal the No. 1 decide — congratulations on one more profitable tank — and a few hosts of sports activities debate reveals are weighing whether or not they need to commerce Justin Fields after which draft Bryce Younger. That is ridiculous and never going to occur.
Fields simply completed his second yr and confirmed appreciable enchancment from his rookie season. He had one of the vital prolific dashing seasons ever with the second most dashing yards in a season for a quarterback, behind solely Lamar Jackson in his MVP marketing campaign. His completion proportion went up, his QBR greater than doubled, and he went from throwing seven touchdowns with 10 picks to throwing 17 touchdowns with 11 picks. All that whereas being tied for the most-sacked quarterback within the league.
As you may’ve discovered from the sack complete, the Bears’ offensive line isn’t excellent. Da Bears additionally gave up essentially the most factors per sport within the league and had the second-worst operating protection. I’d guess that except you’ve a Mike Ditka fathead in your wall, you possibly can’t identify a single receiver on the group.
When Chicago is on the clock and “Group Wants” reveals up on the underside third of the display screen, it’ll say “the whole lot however quarterback.” Buying and selling one quarterback who took an enormous leap in his second season and proved himself to be a franchise QB, simply to draft one other one, is taking one step ahead and two steps again. All of the Bears would be doing is delaying the rebuild.
That’s why the perfect factor to do is to commerce again within the draft, collect extra picks, and begin to handle their group’s many, many wants. And if the Bears don’t commerce again, they need to use the decide both on Alabama linebacker Will Anderson, or Georgia deal with Jalen Carter — somebody who can enhance an space that really wants enhancing.
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Perhaps the most important advocate on TV for buying and selling Fields is ESPN’s Dan Graziano who stated on Get Up, “I feel Justin Fields shall be a strong B, B+, however [Bryce Young] – I feel he has an opportunity to be an A.”
I don’t disagree with any of that, however discover the phrase selection. “An opportunity.” After all he has an opportunity to be an A, however lots of issues should occur between every now and then. It will be loopy to commerce away a positive factor to take an opportunity on one other quarterback, even if you happen to assume they’re going to be nice. If the Bears draft Bryce Younger, he’d be strolling into the identical mess that Fields was in.
And what would the plan be after that? Younger struggles as a result of he has a nasty group round him, then they guarantee the fan base there’s a motive for optimism, then commerce Younger away after displaying enchancment in yr two as a result of a “generational expertise” comes alongside each two years or so, rinse and repeat?
And naturally the Bears are going to say they’re contemplating it to maintain the decide’s commerce worth excessive. If the Texans need Bryce Younger and really imagine that the Bears are going to draft him No. 1, then they’ll most likely be keen to surrender extra to maneuver up that one spot.
After all, Chicago ought to do its due diligence by scouting each contender for the highest decide and contemplating all potential choices, however it must be a fast dialog, one which goes one thing like: “Ought to we commerce Fields?” “No.” “You’re proper. What was I considering?”
Is Bryce Younger the reply?
I feel Bryce Younger shall be an excellent NFL quarterback, however some issues ought to give groups at the very least slightly little bit of pause earlier than drafting him to switch the quarterback they have already got. He’s small, and I hate to carry it up as a result of typically, I feel it’s silly to fully fixate on a participant’s bodily attributes, however it’s nonetheless noteworthy. He’s listed at 6-foot and 194 lbs. Uh-huh…
Have you ever ever seen him stand subsequent to 5-foot-6 Nick Saban?
I don’t purchase into the concept a quarterback’s top has any impact on how nicely they play, however I’m curious how Younger will maintain up towards the wood-chipper that’s the NFL.
Bear in mind how Fields was sacked essentially the most of any quarterback this season? That was 55 instances. Younger was sacked 63 instances in his school profession, and lots of of these had been undoubtedly from gamers who aren’t as massive or robust as those who shall be tackling him within the NFL. He additionally has a comparatively minor damage concern with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder he sustained in October that prompted him to overlook one sport.
One other quarterback who’s a contender for the highest decide (and nearly actually going within the prime 5) is C.J. Stroud from Fields’ alma mater Ohio State. They’re very completely different gamers, however personally, I used to be a lot larger on Fields popping out of faculty than I’m on Stroud proper now.
If Fields was part of this draft class, the place would you’re taking him? For me, it’s second at worst. However he isn’t on this draft class. He’s already two years into his profession and will use some assist.
