While the Chicago Bears have had a rather disappointing 2-5 start, the franchise has an unexpected underdog story behind center.
Tyson Bagent is suddenly near the forefront of the Windy City sports scene and has helped galvanize some Bear fans after a stunning NFL debut one week ago, as he guided the Bears to the rout of the Las Vegas Raiders. But it’s his backstory that makes his path to the NFL all the more intriguing ahead of his second career start.
Why Did NFL Teams Pass on Tyson Bagent?
For starters, it wasn’t Bagent’s size that presented a dilemma for him ahead of the league.
Bagent was never criticized by notable draft experts for facing lesser competition. Instead, his PFN scouting report focused more on his productivity and possessing a “next-level arm” who put “speed on his passes.”
Bagent was also described as a QB with strong field awareness. Even Lance Zierlein of NFL.com praised Bagent’s patience, quick release, and his confidence in making the intermediate throws into zone coverage.
So even with the praise as an NCAA Division II star who put together the rare trifecta of producing 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000-yard passing seasons, why did Bagent fall out of the draft?
Accuracy and ball placement issues were noted by PFN. With the throws he made, sometimes he forced wide receivers to adjust backward to complete the catch.
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Zierlein mentioned how Bagent possessed “erratic” footwork when he faced blitzes. Then, he had “mechanical issues that needed to be cleaned up.” The draft expert also questioned his decision-making.
Bagent ended up dropping out of the 2023 NFL Draft before finding his way over to the Bears as a UDFA.
How Efficient Was Bagent vs. the Raiders?
Filling in for the injured Justin Fields, Bagent wasn’t even considered someone who put up the most astronomical of numbers. In fact, he settled for just 162 yards versus the Raiders.
But it turns out that he didn’t need to go off on Vegas with a fierce defensive display and reliable ground attack helping him out.
But when Bagent went to the skies, he ended up averaging 5.6 yards per play in hitting the short to intermediate routes. He also proved that he can spread the ball around as he got eight different wideouts involved on the receptions front, ending his day with a 97.2 rating.
Can Bagent Continue His Momentum Against the Los Angeles Chargers?
Bagent could go from Division II to 2-0 as an NFL starter. This time, he’s immediately in the national spotlight being near Hollywood and with the NBC Sunday Night Football cameras on him.
Ahead of the road contest versus the Los Angeles Chargers, Bagent will face the league’s second-worst pass defense, as the Bolts have allowed 1,860 yards through the air.
For a league that has embraced underdog stories, the undrafted Bagent has certainly positioned himself as the next one to watch by the league.
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