Chicago Bears 🐻⬇️
Round 1
Justin Fields
QB Ohio StateFields was Mr. Football in Georgia as a senior at Harrison High School, so it was natural for him to accept UGA's offer as one of the top recruits in the country. He appeared in 12 games as a true freshman, playing behind Jake Fromm (27-of-39, 69.2%, 328 yards, four TDs passing; 42-266-6.3, four TDs rushing) and earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. He decided to move on to Ohio State in January 2019, as Fromm was expected to start again that year. Fields was granted a waiver from the NCAA that allowed him to play immediately for the Buckeyes. He earned Heisman Trophy finalist, second-team Associated Press All-American and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, ranking third in the country in touchdown throws (41, against just three interceptions) and fourth in passing efficiency rating (181.4) in 14 starts. He was named MVP of the Big Ten Championship Game after throwing for 299 yards and three TDs in a win over Wisconsin before losing to Clemson in the national semifinals. Fields was quite familiar with Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence as they grew up 20 miles apart in Georgia and were considered the top two prospects in the 2018 recruiting class. Fields took Ohio State a step closer to a national title in 2020, winning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. He finished the year ranked sixth in the country in completion percentage (158-of-225, 70.2%, 2,100 yards, 22 TDs, six INTs passing) and rushed for five scores (81-383-4.7) in eight starts. His postseason efforts as a passer were up and down. He struggled against Northwestern in the team's Big Ten Championship Game victory (12-of-27, 44.4%, 114 yards, 2 INTs), bounced back while playing through injury in the semifinal win over Clemson (22-of-28, 78.6%, 385 yards, six TDs, one INT), and then came up short against Alabama in the title game (17-of-33, 51.5%, 194 yards, one TD). Fields' father, Ivant, played football at Eastern Kentucky. -- by Chad Reuter
- Day's description of Fields stuck with Nagy
- Bears receive high marks for impressive draft
- NFLN: Reasons to be excited about Fields
- NFLN: Fields among draft's best values
- Nagy shares thoughts on Bears landing Fields
- Justin Fields visits Soldier Field | Behind the Scenes
- 2021 Draft portraits: Justin Fields & Teven Jenkins
- Behind the scenes: Justin Fields draft call
- 9 things we learned about Fields on Zoom call
- Justin Fields arrives in Chicago | Behind the Scenes
- Bears feel Fields in ideal situation to succeed
- 11 fun facts about Bears drafting Fields 11th
- Justin Fields introductory press conference
- They Said It: Reaction to selection of Fields
- NFLN: Nagy 'couldn't get enough' of Fields
- GMFB: Brandt 'so PROUD of the Chicago Bears'
- Bears trade up to draft QB Justin Fields
- Justin Fields College Highlights
- Draft Gallery: Justin Fields
- Ryan Pace on drafting Justin Fields
- Fields thrilled Bears traded up to pick him
- Excitement palpable after Bears land Fields
- Justin Fields Rapid Reaction
- Pick announcement: Bears select Justin Fields
Round 2
Teven Jenkins
OT Oklahoma StateThe two-time All-Kansas player from Topeka High School started three times (once at right tackle, twice at right guard) in 12 games played for the Cowboys his redshirt freshman season. Jenkins was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2018 while splitting starts between two spots (10 at right tackle, three at left tackle). He shared the 2019 Thurman Thomas Award with receiver Tylan Wallace, which designates OSU's Most Outstanding Offensive Player. He was also an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as a 12-game starter his junior season, beginning nine at right tackle and three at left tackle. League coaches voted Jenkins first-team all-conference in 2020 for his play in seven starts (one at left tackle, six at right tackle). He opted out for the final month of the season and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter
- Chalk Talk: Has Jenkins ever played left tackle?
- Gundy thinks Jenkins may be best tackle in draft
- Bears receive high marks for impressive draft
- NFLN: Jenkins pick 'biggest steal of the draft'
- 6 fun facts about Bears drafting Jenkins 39th
- 2021 Draft portraits: Justin Fields & Teven Jenkins
- Behind the scenes: Teven Jenkins draft call
- Bears trade up to draft Jenkins in Round 2
- Teven Jenkins College Highlights
- Draft Gallery: Teven Jenkins
- Ryan Pace on drafting Teven Jenkins
- Jenkins brings edge, chip on shoulder to Bears
- Chance to land Jenkins too enticing to pass up
- Update: Bears trade up to get Jenkins, Pace reacts
- NFLN: Bears receive 'A' grade for Jenkins pick
- Teven Jenkins Rapid Reaction
- NFLN: Revisiting Teven Jenkins' college highlights
- Pick announcement: Bears select Teven Jenkins
- Teven Jenkins on being drafted by Bears
Round 5
Larry Borom
G MissouriBorom moved from Detroit, where he was a three-star recruit out of Brother Rice High School, to Columbia for the 2017 season. He redshirted that fall before taking on a reserve and special teams role in all 13 games the following fall. Coaches gave him his chance as a starter as a sophomore and he filled in at three positions (left tackle, left guard, right tackle), playing in all 12 of the team's contests that season. Borom started eight games at right tackle in 2020, missing time with a lower leg injury, before declaring for the NFL draft. -- by Chad Reuter
Round 6
Khalil Herbert
RB Virginia TechHerbert went from American Heritage High School in Florida (where he was named first-team All-Broward County as a senior) to Kansas as a three-star recruit in 2016. He contributed to the Jayhawks as a freshman (44 carries, 189 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, three touchdowns; six receptions, 42 yards, 7.0 average in eight games, three starts) and sophomore (120 carries, 663 yards, 5.5 yards per carry, four touchdowns; eight receptions, 38 yards, 4.8 average in 11 games, six starts). Herbert started only one game in 2018 (the season opener) because of the emergence of Pooka Williams Jr. (113 carries, 499 yards, 4.4 yards per carry, five touchdowns; nine receptions, 39 yards, 4.3 average in 12 contests). Seeing his playing time limited by Williams in 2019, Herbert decided to shut it down after four games (43 carries, 384 yards, 8.9 average, two touchdowns, two starts) to redshirt. His relationship with Kansas coaches deteriorated, however, leading him to transfer to Virginia Tech as a graduate student for 2020. Herbert had his best collegiate season for the Hokies, garnering third-team All-ACC honors at running back as well as second-team honors as an all-purpose player. He ranked fourth in the FBS with 7.7 yards per rush, fifth with 1,182 rushing yards (154 carries) and seventh with 162.8 all-purpose yards per game (10 receptions, 179 yards, 17.9 average, one touchdown; 16 kick returns, 430 yards, 26.9 average), starting nine of 11 contests. He accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter
- Bears lauded for finding two diamonds in rough
- Bears scout breaks down Khalil Herbert
- Bears receive high marks for impressive draft
- Bears draft RB Herbert in sixth round
- Khalil Herbert College Highlights
- Draft Gallery: Khalil Herbert
- Khalil Herbert on being drafted by the Bears
- Khalil Herbert 'excited and grateful' to join Bears
- NFLN: Revisiting Khalil Herbert's college highlights
- Pick announcement: Bears select Khalil Herbert
Dazz Newsome
WR North CarolinaNewsome blazed his own trail by signing with the Tar Heels, as his father (Myron) and brother (Deon) both played football at Virginia Tech. Newsome played in nine games with two starts as a true freshman in 2017 (18 receptions, 227 yards, 12.6 average) just one year after being named the Hampton (Virginia) Daily Press Player of the Year as a senior (35 total touchdowns, including two pick-sixes). He started six games of 11 games played as a sophomore (44 receptions, 506 yards, 11.5 average, two touchdowns), also contributing on special teams (six kick returns, 125 yards, 20.8 average; 19 punt returns, 286 yards, 15.1 average, one touchdown). Newsome had some issues catching passes during spring 2019 practice, so he got contact lenses. The improved sight helped him become one of then-freshman quarterback Sam Howell's favorite targets in 2019, garnering second-team All-ACC honors with a team-high 72 receptions for 1,108 yards (15.4 per) and 10 touchdowns in 12 starts. He scored twice against Temple in the team's Military Bowl victory. Newsome was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2020 (54 receptions, 684 yards, 12.7 average, six touchdowns; two carries, 21 yards, one touchdown; 17 punt returns, 168 yards, 9.9 average), starting all 12 games. -- by Chad Reuter
- Bears scout on Dazz Newsome's play: 'He has a knack for getting open'
- Bears receive high marks for impressive draft
- Bears spend second sixth-round pick on WR Newsome
- Dazz Newsome College Highlights
- Dazz Newsome on being drafted by the Bears
- Dazz Newsome: 'I'm ready to compete'
- Pick announcement: Bears select Dazz Newsome
Thomas Graham Jr.
CB OregonGraham was a four-star, top-150 overall recruit out of Rancho Cucamonga High School in California. Oregon coaches wasted no time getting him into the lineup, starting the young corner in 12 of 13 games played (62 tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups) as a freshman in 2017. He tied for third in the FBS with 18 pass breakups in 2018, starting all 13 games and posting 56 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. League coaches voted him honorable mention all-conference as a 14-game starter for the Ducks in 2019 (64 tackles, five for loss, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups). Graham opted out of the 2020 season and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. -- by Chad Reuter
Round 7
Khyiris Tonga
DT BYUKhyiris Tonga (pronounced KYE-riss TONG-uh) initially committed to Utah after starring at Granger High School but decided to switch to BYU while serving his church mission in Kansas. He started two of 13 games played in 2017 (19 tackles, four for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups) and eight of 13 games the following season (30 tackles, 4.5 for loss, two sacks). Tonga lost 35 pounds before his junior campaign. He went on to start 11 of 13 games played and rack up 45 stops, four for loss, with one sack. He had considered leaving for the NFL after the 2019 season but decided to return to Provo to start 11 games for the Cougars (36 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups). -- by Chad Reuter