Contrasts have highlighted Justin Fields’ NFL career. While there have been flashes of brilliance, the Chicago Bears quarterback has also dealt with plenty of struggles.
Nearly any passing metric — and the Bears’ record during Fields’ time with the club — would indicate Chicago made the wrong selection, but Fields is still just 24 years old. When did the Bears draft Fields, and should they have chosen someone else?
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When Was Justin Fields Drafted?
Fields always looked like a potential early-round NFL Draft pick, even dating back to his high school days. After his senior season, he was named Mr. Georgia Football and rated as a five-star recruit.
Fields began his college career at Georgia but transferred to Ohio State in 2019. He thrived with the Buckeyes, winning back-to-back Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year awards while earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and 2020.
While Fields had two seasons of college eligibility remaining after leading the Buckeyes to a national championship appearance in 2020, he decided to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 2021 quarterback class was considered historic, as Fields joined Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones were all first-round selections.
MORE: When Was Sam Howell Drafted?
Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars), Wilson (New York Jets), and Lance (San Francisco 49ers) ended up coming off the board with the top three picks. Fields was thought to be in consideration for the 49ers, but San Francisco ultimately narrowed its choices to Lance and Jones.
The New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings attempted to trade up to draft Fields. The Pats tried to move up to No. 4 (held by the Atlanta Falcons), while the Vikings wanted to work out a deal with the Carolina Panthers, owners of the eighth overall selection.
But the Bears ultimately stepped forward to make a move up the board for Fields. Chicago sent its 2021 first-round pick (No. 20), a 2021 fifth-round pick, and its first and fourth-round picks in 2022 to the New York Giants in exchange for the No. 11 selection.
Jones eventually went to the Patriots at pick No. 15. Kyle Trask (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Kellen Mond (Vikings), and Davis Mills (Houston Texans) rounded out the Day 2 quarterback selections in 2021.
Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons and Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater — who have already been named All-Pros — were drafted with the two picks immediately after the Bears selected Fields.