Teams should already regret passing on Bears QB Justin Fields in the draft

Bears QB Justin Fields looked like the real deal in his first preseason game. Here’s why teams should already have second thoughts about passing on him. 

The Chicago Bears played their first preseason game of the year against the Miami Dolphins, and you better believe that all eyes were on quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears have been the center of ridicule since drafting Mitch Trubisky in 2017 over players like Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson.

This team has been on a long drought without a franchise quarterback, and after trading up to the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Bears are hoping they finally found their answer. They are also hoping that the teams who drafted ahead of them regret not taking Justin Fields.

After watching him in his first preseason action, it’s hard not to think about what thoughts are running through the heads of NFL general managers who picked ahead of the Bears this year.

Fields wasn’t perfect in his first showing. There were a lot of short passes at first, and he had a drive where he almost threw an interception before eventually fumbling the football. However, once he got comfortable, he looked like a franchise quarterback in the making.

Justin Fields was remarkably poised in the pocket. When things broke down, he didn’t panic or force the ball into traffic; he simply extended the play while keeping his eyes down the field. While his elite athleticism was on full display at times when he would take off with the football, Fields didn’t just tuck and run. In fact, at times when he would escape the pocket, he made some terrific passes for first downs.

The Bears rookie quarterback finished the day completing 14 of 20 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown to give him a 106.7 passer rating, according to ESPN. He also chipped in an additional 33 rushing yards on the ground as well as a rushing touchdown. It was all Chicago could have asked for out of his first preseason performance.

NFL teams should regret passing on Bears QB Justin Fields

Seeing how remarkable Justin Fields looked at times, there should already be teams having buyer’s remorse for their decision to pass on him in the NFL Draft. Teams like the Falcons, Lions, Panthers, Broncos, and Eagles each had a shot at taking Fields (who was one of the highest-rated quarterback recruits in the country), but they each elected to go in a different direction.

Even a few teams selecting after the 11th overall pick could regret not pulling the trigger and jumping up to land Fields as he slid down the draft. With the way Fields is trending, this is something teams like Washington and Pittsburgh might wish they would have done once they see how good he can be in the NFL.

Again, I don’t want to make too much out of one preseason performance from the Bears rookie quarterback, but this isn’t surprising. I had Justin Fields as my number two overall rated player in entering the 2021 NFL Draft – over both Zach Wilson and Trey Lance – so getting him with the 11th pick was an absolute steal.

Fields still has a lot to prove, but his first NFL performance was very promising. I’m betting there will be many more to come. Teams are going to regret passing on him in the NFL Draft.