The Bears made the biggest splash of the draft by trading up for Justin Fields. When they did so, it couldn’t have been welcome news to Andy Dalton. Dalton signed with Chicago this offseason hoping to be their starter in 2021, and obviously the Fields pick put that plan in jeopardy. But Bears head coach Matt Nagy talked to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shortly after the pick and told Rapoport he “wants the Kansas City model” that the Chiefs did with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes (Twitter video link).Smith, of course, played the entire 2017 season before Mahomes took over in 2018.
Nagy was the offensive coordinator in Kansas City for that ’17 season before getting hired by the Bears. Rapoport says “their goal is to have Andy Dalton play the entire year, have Fields develop under the radar, and then pass the torch the following year.” Despite Nagy’s contentions, that’s almost certainly unrealistic. Nagy is coaching for his job this season, and both he and GM Ryan Pace are on the hottest of seats. They need to win in 2021, and they know it. It’s far from guaranteed Dalton even makes it to Week 1 as the starter, and assuming he does he’ll be on a very short leash. For what it’s worth, Rapsheet notes the Bears did call and talk to Dalton about moving up for a quarterback prior to making the trade. As he points out, that’s more than Aaron Rodgers got from the Packers with Jordan Love.
Here’s more from around the NFC on a quiet Sunday night:
- The Saints just drafted Notre Dame passer Ian Book in the fourth-round, but he’s not likely to be involved in the competition between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill to become Drew Brees‘ successor. We heard when Winston re-upped with the Saints on a one-year deal with $5.5MM guaranteed worth “up to” $12MM that he had significant incentives, and now we have the details on those incentives. They come courtesy of Nick Underhill from NewOrleans.Football (Twitter link). There are too many to list here, but Winston will get $62.5K for every game where he plays more than 50 percent of the snaps up to $1MM. He’ll get $500K if he throws 20 touchdown passes ($1MM if he hits 25). He’s got an incentive for pretty much everything, including another $500K if the Saints make the playoffs and he plays 70 percent of the snaps.
- We heard earlier this weekend that Richard Sherman was talking with a handful of teams, including the Seahawks about a potential reunion. The 49ers, Saints, and Raiders are apparently also in the mix, but it sounds more and more like a return to Seattle is a distinct possibility. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told the media on Saturday that he had talked to Sherman “quite a few times” this offseason about coming back to where he started his career, via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com. Sherman, now 33, only played in five games last season but was a second-team All-Pro in 2019. He was with Seattle from 2011-17, making four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams as part of their legendary ‘Legion of Boom’ defenses. Sherman has said previously he’d sign after the draft, so something could materialize here soon.
Lol this Mahomes model isn’t new. QBs used to actually sit behind a veteran at least part of the season, a year, sometimes more. Ever hear of Steve Young or Aaron Rodgers? Palmer sat behind Kitna for a year, McNabb part of a year.
It was pretty much the norm throughout the league, with a few sparse exceptions like Rick Mirer (of all people), until Peyton Manning. Guys usually sat for at least a part of the season before getting handed the keys the following year. Elway, Marino, Aikman, Jeff George, Drew Bledsoe all sat for parts of their rookie year despite being high picks or simply really good (Marino; end of the first round).
Manning’s success (especially in subsequent years) kind of put the whole idea of performing poorly ruining a QB’s psyche to bed. Then teams moved to the learn-by-doing approach, by and large.
Troy Aikman played behind another rookie named Steve Walsh.
After Matt Ryan is when it really seemed the traditional thinking changed. People seemed surprised that a rookie QB could succeed his first year. Now with Mahommes the trend will likely go back to a redshirt year. NFL front offices are always trying to find a magic formula to developing QBs.
I think he referenced it specifically having been on that team during that transition. He didn’t say it was their original idea he just had a relevant example he could use when talking that would be easily understood by them and that he was very well connected with.
It’s all based on how well or how poorly the starter plays. Rodgers sat because he was behind Farve and Young sat behind Montana. As much as I’d like to see Fields get out there, I hope Dalton plays well enough that the kid has some time to acclimate and not get thrown to the wolves too soon.
Steve Young wasn’t drafted by the 49ers. Started in the USFL, bombed in Tampa (sat behind DeBerg for a 2/3 of the year then bombed), then went on to sit behind Montana.
That was the past Daulton knows look what happened in Cincy after that Rookie Sensation join the team it happens times has changed
Unless Dalton is terrible in preseason, no way he doesnt start the season as the qb for the Bears. Don’t put Fields in a bad position. Let him learn the offense and play when they are eliminated from playoff contention around week 12-15
They’ll be mathematically eliminated by week 10.
The Bears can’t develop young QBs so Fields is already in a bad position. If Nagy sits him for a dozen games while Dalton struggles then Nagy will get canned just like Jeff Fisher was when he sat Goff for most of his rookie year.
Nagy only had Trubisky to develop and took him ti the playoffs twice so come on now. Also the Bears literally just made the postseason so I don’t think Nagy’s seat is as hot as people think.
You don’t give up significant draft capital to trade up 9 spots in the first round just to acquire a QB that isn’t good enough to start over Dalton. If Fields isn’t starting by week 3 then either Pace or Nagy will have a lot of explaining to do.
Um the Chief’s did it a few years ago with Mahomes so no they wouldn’t have to explain anything. The 49ers gave up more and Lance isn’t projected to start either. Is Shanahan or Lynch on the hot seat too?
Pace seat is hot Nagy seat is Warm
But Pace is burningNagy is on hot seat
It’s first round win in the playoffs it’s bye bye for spending are first pick in the 22 could’ve went for a 1st next year 2/3 why waste two 1’s his a rookie a great rookie but stop it Pace you gave one two many for K.Mack. He was great nothing beats 2 First picks
Surprise you didn’t give a first for T.Jenkins another damm good Rookie key word Rookie PACE
Wake up middle of the road thinkers if a QB is better then a vet play him soon as he prove you can win more with the rookie but often the rook ain’t that much better then you go with the veteran and use his game time exprence.