From the looks of the 2021 NFL Draft, things might be heading in the Chicago Bears fans’ direction.
Ryan Pace traded up to draft Justin Fields in the first round with the 11th pick of the draft. Before doing so, he brought in former Pro Bowl quarterback, Andy Dalton. Pace also made an attempt at acquiring Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seahawks.
Most Chicago Bears fans were enraged without a franchise quarterback, while some just accepted the reality for what it was. Pace showed that he had better plans for this franchise. He went back to right his wrong, something most GMs don’t get a chance to do.
For a long time, missing out on Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes haunted Bears Nation. These two young quarterbacks found instant success in the league. Back in 2017, Pace longed for a franchise quarterback when he drafted Mitch Trubisky by moving up one spot to second overall.
The research he did on Trubisky out of North Carolina could not topple the impact Watson and Mahomes had in the league early on. Things did not swing in that favor, and it was back to the drawing board. All signs except playing an actual NFL game point in favor of Fields being the potential turn of the decade. How well things go can buy a lot of time for Pace and Nagy in Chicago. This city is a hard one to please, and spectators will not hesitate with letting the media know how they feel.
Head coach Matt Nagy looks to have found his guy more than the actual organization itself. Although he’s an above .500 coach in Chicago, he faces more scrutiny than most coaches. The frustration comes from wanting to become a contending franchise.
Last season, he had his run with both Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky. In the end, it was Trubisky who was under center refueling this offense for a late playoff push. Nagy’s scheme was questioned after poor results, and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s plan looked more effective for Trubisky.
Nagy game-planned year after year for an offensive scheme that did not consistently correlate on the field. More times than not, it faced purgatory. With the drafting of Justin Fields, he gets another chance at the scheme. Earlier in the offseason, it was announced that Nagy was back to calling plays for the Bears again.
Did the Chicago Bears general manager plan this or luck into it?
Not too many general managers get a rebuild without the actual rebuilding phase. The Chicago Bears are coming off a playoff berth for the 2020 season. They’ve made the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. This defense can still play at a high level. Youth is still on the Bears’ side. Pace launched a commitment to this roster that appears to be move at his pace (no pun intended).
While some can call it luck, Pace’s highs have been high. While his lows cost a lot over his time as the Bears GM. He took the good, bad, and uglier to the chin. His preparation has been keeping the Bears afloat. They have had their moments to be taken seriously and to be a laughing stock.
Through the moments, Ryan Pace never stopped taking risks. He’s attentive in the later rounds of the draft. Jaylon Johnson, Darnell Mooney, Tarik Cohen, and David Montgomery are some players that would go higher if redrafting were a thing. The only thing left for the Bears to do is make a consistent run at the NFC North.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had their time atop of the NFC North, consistently winning for over a decade. Bears saw a window that was shut open back up briefly, then closed, week in and week out. Booking themselves for a new franchise quarterback added on more years for a bright future.
Pieces are still intact across the board, which is a great thing. Nagy and his offense are riddled with weapons. The Bears defense has premier talent, with underrated defensive tackle Eddie Goldman returning this season. The future is as bright as Pace and company want it to be right now. Drafting Justin Fields has the potential to be the move of the century for the Bears.