The admission of the decision to trade up for quarterback Justin Fields during the 2021 NFL draft has been made by former Bears executive John Lucas.
This revelation follows the Bears’ acknowledgment of their misstep in the 2017 NFL draft when they traded up to the No. 2 pick to select Mitch Trubisky, whose tenure as the team’s quarterback concluded after four years.
As the 2021 NFL draft approached, uncertainty surrounded the Bears’ intentions, with speculation about whether they would prioritize a quarterback or address their struggling offensive line.
Seated at the No. 20 spot in the first round, the Bears surprised observers by trading up to the No. 11 pick. After quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance were selected in the first three picks, the Bears seized the opportunity to draft Justin Fields from Ohio State.
Former Bears executive John Lucas shed light on the decision-making process, stating on NBC Sports Chicago’s “Football Night in Chicago,” “That decision on Justin Fields came down to the day of the draft.
Our head coach, being an offensive head coach at the time with Coach Nagy, was extremely involved in that decision.
Taking in the data points all the way up until the end of the draft was a more comprehensive process. I was very proud. I thought we improved on the process, and we took who I think was the best quarterback available when we selected.”
Lucas emphasized that the approach to selecting Fields differed significantly from the strategy employed in the 2017 NFL draft. This time, the process was more collaborative, considering various opinions within the organization and evaluating key points.
To secure the No. 11 pick for Fields, the Bears traded the No. 20 overall pick, a fifth-rounder (No. 164 overall), and their 2022 first- and fourth-round picks.
Addressing the choice of Fields over other available quarterbacks, Lucas explained, “The situation ended up being very similar [to 2017]. We knew Trevor Lawrence was going one. We knew the Jets were taking Wilson.
Trey Lance, for us, was not a first-round quarterback. So he wasn’t in the discussion. So Mac Jones, Justin Fields. Very close opinions grades. It was every other day. I think we might take Mac. I think we might take Justin.
And it literally came down, ultimately, to when you look at the big picture, the grades were stronger throughout the building on Justin’s side than they were for Mac. I think that’s ultimately how we came to the final decision to take Justin.”
In the end, Mac Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots with the No. 15 pick. The Bears’ decision to lean towards Fields appears fortuitous, considering Jones has not flourished with the Patriots under Bill Belichick, and there are speculations about the Patriots moving on from him in the offseason. The question now remains: Will the Bears follow a similar path with Fields?
