Chicago Bears: Post-2021 NFL Draft 53-man roster projection
By Ryan Heckman
What a difference just one year makes for these Chicago Bears. Better yet, what a difference just three days makes following the 2021 NFL Draft.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace did exactly what fans had been praying for when he made the move to go up and get Justin Fields at the no. 11 pick. Trading a haul of picks to move up nine spots with the New York Giants, the Bears found their franchise quarterback — finally.
Following the move to get Fields, Pace then traded up again in the second round. This time, he moved up to secure the future health of his franchise quarterback by drafting Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins.
From there, Pace went on to find some excellent value with each and every one of the Bears’ remaining draft picks.
The fun now begins as the Chicago Bears begin shaping their roster for 2021 Training Camp and beyond.
Of course, the most talked about position from now until Week 1 will be at the quarterback. Does Fields end up winning the job in camp? For now, it appears Matt Nagy will roll with Andy Dalton. However, that could be simple coach speak. After all, he did tell Dalton he’d be coming in as the starter.
Things can change quickly, though, especially when you have such a talented quarterback like Fields. Believe it or not, there were at least eight teams that had Fields ranked as their number one quarterback for this year’s draft — yes, even over number one pick Trevor Lawrence.
It’s safe to say that’s going to be the topic of about 90 percent of conversations from now until September. It’s all about the quarterback. But, there are several other spots up for grabs on the final 53-man roster. So, following the draft, who makes the cut right now? Let’s dive in.