3 reasons it is fine that the Chicago Bears passed on Georgia DT Jalen Carter in the NFL Draft
By Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears are focused on protecting their franchise quarterback.
Fields was sacked 55 times last season. He was sacked 14.7% of the time he dropped back to pass.
Patrick Mahomes was sacked only 3.9% of the time on his dropbacks. Jalen Hurts was sacked 7.6% of the time. Mahomes won the MVP and Hurts was the runner-up. Both were the starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl.
For Fields to reach his MVP potential and lead the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl, he needs time in the pocket. Now some of those sack numbers are on Fields. He needs to get rid of the ball quicker.
He still took a beating because of poor pass protection. If Ryan Poles did not take Wright, then currently the battle for the starting right tackle spot would be between Larry Borom and Alex Leatherwood.
Borom was benched last season and Leatherwood was inactive after getting a tryout. The offensive line had to be upgraded. Poles was able to get help for the interior portion when he signed Nate Davis this offseason. He swung and missed on a free-agent tackle.
Therefore, he needed to get a starter out of this draft and Darnell Wright is a plug-and-play prospect.
He gave up zero sacks last year playing in the SEC. That is impressive considering he had to take on Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia’s defensive line. Anderson said Wright was the best offensive lineman he faced all season.
The 2023 season is a pivotal season for Fields’ development. Ryan Poles is doing everything he can to make sure he provides Justin with all the support he can get.
Poles turned the No. 1 overall pick into wide receiver D.J. Moore and extra draft picks via a trade with the Carolina Panthers. He then got Fields better protection this offseason.
The Bears finally have a general manager who recognizes the quarterback cannot do it all by himself and needs help. When Poles tries to provide that assistance, he gets skewered for it.
Plus, Poles needed to come away with a player who can start for a decade. Wright is more likely to do that than Carter with all of Carter’s issues.