Justin Fields Drafted by Bears: Chicago's Updated Depth Chart After Round 1

Paul KasabianSenior ContributorApril 30, 2021

FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, file photo, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields passes against Clemson during the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans. Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields was among 98 juniors granted eligibility by the NFL into the draft, while national championship-winning QBs Mac Jones from Alabama and Trevor Lawrence from Clemson were among another 30 players eligible after completing their degrees and deciding not to play more in college. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is the new face of the Chicago Bears' franchise after they selected the signal-caller 11th overall in the 2021 NFL draft on Thursday.

Chicago moved up nine spots from No. 20 to No. 11 with the New York Giants to take Fields. ESPN's Adam Schefter broke down the deal:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Giants return from Chicago for pick No. 11: Pick. 20 Next years 1 Five this year four next year https://t.co/VAZItyhOaD

Here's a look at how Chicago's depth chart shakes out with him in the mix.

Bears Offensive Depth Chart

QB: Andy Dalton, Justin Fields, Nick Foles

RB: David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen

WR 1: Allen Robinson

WR 2: Darnell Mooney

WR 3: Anthony Miller, Javon Wims

TE: Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet

LT: Charles Leno Jr., Badara Traore

LG: James Daniels, Arlington Hambright

C: Cody Whitehair, Sam Mustipher

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

RG: Germain Ifedi, Alex Bars

RT: Elijah Wilkinson, Lachavious Simmons

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads and Over the Cap.

Fields, who led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship last year, completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns (six interceptions) in eight games. He added 383 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground.

That stellar season followed another great one in 2019, when Fields completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 41 touchdowns (three interceptions). He rushed for 484 yards and 10 scores too.

The Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Dept. thinks highly of Fields, ranking him third overall on its 2021 NFL draft prospect list behind only Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. The group assigned Fields a 9.2 grade out of 10: Anyone in the 9.0-9.4 range is given a "potential All-Pro" designation.

Fields' best work came during the 2020 CFP semifinal, when he outplayed Lawrence and led OSU to a 49-28 win thanks to six touchdowns:

He has the potential to be a two-decade superstar in the NFL given his tremendous skill set, and he has the power to change Chicago's fortunes in the short-term future.

Fields joins a Chicago Bears team that has Andy Dalton and Nick Foles on its depth chart. Chicago parted ways with 2017 No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky.

The Bears inked Dalton to a one-year, $10 million deal and named him their starter. But the trade up for Fields signals that Chicago is serious about making the ex-Ohio State star the face of its franchise.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace told reporters that the team is committed to Dalton as its QB1 despite the Fields pick, but that doesn't preclude Fields from taking the reins at some point before his rookie season is over.

Regardless, the Bears hope Fields can finally give the team some long-term stability and excellence at the position. Chances are he does.