Bleacher Report recently reviewed the worst draft pick made by every NFL team over the past five years. For the Chicago Bears, the pick in question is still a fan favorite, but it’s understandable why it was chosen: quarterback Justin Fields, whom the team traded up for in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Bleacher Report argues that both Rashawn Slater and Micah Parsons would have provided more value, especially considering how the Fields era played out in Chicago. It’s hard to deny the logic when looking at the current state of the roster and what could have been.
"Micah Parsons was also an option here, but left tackle has been a big question mark for the Bears over the last several years. Braxton Jones is a solid player, but head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams would undoubtedly prefer to have a two-time Pro Bowler protecting the blind side."
Looking back at Bears selecting Fields and whether it was the right move
Still, if you were the Bears at that time, what were you supposed to do? The 2021 draft was seen as one with real potential at quarterback, and the team had just come off a season with Nick Foles. They were entering the next year with Andy Dalton as the presumptive starter if no quarterback was taken. No team can roll into back-to-back seasons relying solely on that setup, so the Bears rolled the dice and lost.
From a cost-benefit perspective, this kind of miss happens. But seeing both Slater and Parsons come off the board immediately after hurts even more in hindsight. Between the two, there’s an argument that Parsons would have been the better pick. Slater has been excellent, but Parsons impacts the game at an elite level, and it’s reflected in the Cowboys’ win-loss record when he plays. He’s one of the rarest defensive talents in the NFL.
There’s also another debate brewing: whether Jalen Carter should have been selected over Darnell Wright in 2023. While Wright has been solid and offensive tackle was a significant need, Carter has quickly emerged as one of the most impactful defenders in the league.
Beyond that, the Bears didn’t have a first-round pick in 2020 or 2022. And while some have already begun debating whether Caleb Williams over Jayden Daniels will be another misstep, that outcome is far from settled.