CHICAGO — 4 years after buying and selling up for Mitchell Trubisky, an experiment that ultimately fizzled out, the Chicago Bears as soon as once more pulled off a surprising transfer Thursday evening within the NFL draft after they traded up 9 spots with the New York Giants to take Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with the 11th general choose.
The Giants acquired Chicago’s first-round (No. 20) and fifth-round picks this yr, and the Bears’ first- and fourth-rounders subsequent yr.
“We had a number of plans tonight, and the way in which the board was falling, we bought excited when the quarterbacks got here off that method and Justin continued to fall,” Bears normal supervisor Ryan Tempo mentioned. “For us, it was simply executing our plan on the proper spot within the draft and being affected person with that, which typically will be troublesome.
“Fortuitously, with the Giants, I’ve identified Dave Gettleman for 20 years. He is a tremendous particular person and wonderful normal supervisor and we go method again, in order that communication began actually this morning about one thing like that occuring, and once we have been capable of execute it within the draft, I simply really feel actual lucky.”
The Bears signed veteran Andy Dalton for one yr, $10 million in free company, however Chicago’s sights have been at all times set on discovering its quarterback of the long run. The Bears have been bereft a real franchise quarterback since Corridor of Famer Sid Luckman retired in 1950.
Bears head coach Matt Nagy spoke to Dalton on Thursday evening and reiterated that Dalton continues to be the group’s beginning quarterback. That standing, nonetheless, is simply short-term.
Fields is assured he can ultimately fill the quarterback void in Chicago that has lasted 70-plus years.
“You recognize, simply the way in which I carry myself, simply the way in which I care concerning the recreation, the grit I’ve, the willpower I’ve to be nice,” Fields mentioned when requested by reporters why he believes he will be the franchise quarterback Chicago has struggled discovering. “I feel no one has the story that I’ve. So simply the whole lot inside me, simply eager to be an awesome quarterback, eager to be a franchise quarterback. And simply me dreaming for this second my entire life. So I simply assume all of these intangibles, my work ethic and all that collectively will after all be totally different for me.”
The Bears did intensive legwork on this yr’s class of quarterbacks, with Tempo and Nagy touring across the nation to attend the respective professional days of lots of the quarterback prospects, together with Fields’ second exercise at Ohio State.
“I feel I match completely [with what Nagy wants at quarterback],” Fields mentioned. “If he did not assume I match properly [the Bears] would not have traded up.”
“I imply, Fields’ toughness on a scale of 1-10 is an 11,” Tempo added. “And also you simply love that about him. Oh, and by the way in which, he runs a four.44 40-yard sprint. You throw that every one in collectively, and it simply feels good.”
Tempo expressed optimism Thursday that Chicago had the proper quarterback room with Dalton and fellow veteran Nick Foles to welcome a rookie quarterback within the combine. The Bears even have a number of former quarterbacks — Nagy, offensive coordinator Invoice Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo — on the present teaching employees, which they consider may help expedite the event course of.
“We discuss, you possibly can draft the gamers however it’s a must to develop them the proper method,” Tempo mentioned. “And that is what I like concerning the surroundings that now we have. What I like about the environment is the veteran quarterbacks that now we have in that room — like, I do not know in case you look across the league, what number of groups have that sort of expertise within the room. After which the coaches that now we have surrounding that place. I can not say that sufficient. We have a superb plan in place to encompass him with the proper sources, to develop him the proper method.”
After the Philadelphia Eagles jumped the Giants to take huge receiver DeVonta Smith, Gettleman made the primary commerce again in his 9 drafts as a normal supervisor. He had by no means traded again in any spherical of the earlier eight drafts as a GM with the Carolina Panthers and Giants.
The Giants acquired a hefty return for choose No. 11, one thing even they did not assume attainable earlier than the draft. However Fields and Alabama quarterback Mac Jones fell out of the highest 10, permitting Gettleman to keep away from getting fleeced, which he mentioned final week was a purpose he by no means traded again earlier than, although he had tried.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.
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