Matt Nagy: Andy Dalton Is Our Starter
A couple of weeks ago there was a report that the Bears were planning to enter Week 1 with Andy Dalton as their starter, which a lot of people dismissed.
Now, Bears head coach Matt Nagy has more or less confirmed that report publicly in a recent appearance on Cris Collinsworth’s podcast (Twitter video link). When asked by Collinsworth if there was any possible scenario where rookie Justin Fields is under center come Week 1, Nagy said “No.” Fields, of course, was just drafted 11th overall by Chicago.
“I mean Andy is our starter. And again, I can’t predict anything, you know how it goes. I mean there’s so many things that could happen between today and that Week 1. But Andy is our starter and Justin is our number two, and we’re going to stick to this plan,” he continued.
It sounds like the team wants to do right by Dalton, as he was publicly anointed as the starter after signing a one-year, $10MM deal back in March.
It’s worth keeping in mind that only four quarterbacks chosen in Round 1 since 2011 — when that year’s CBA changed first-rounders’ earnings and timelines — did not become a primary starter in Year 1. They were Patrick Mahomes, Jake Locker (2011), Johnny Manziel (2014) and Paxton Lynch (2016).
Both Nagy and GM Ryan Pace are on very thin ice. If the Bears struggle this season, they’ll almost certainly both be fired. As such, it’s hard to believe they’ll have too much patience. Unless Dalton comes in and immediately catches fire and leads the team to victories, it’s hard to see them waiting more than a few weeks to pull the trigger.
If Dalton is anything other than excellent, the pressure from fans and the media will be intense to unleash Fields, the former Ohio State star. We should learn a lot more about the situation in training camp and the preseason.
Bears To Sign Second-Round OT Teven Jenkins
The Bears got Justin Fields‘ deal wrapped up last week, and now they’re inking their second pick. Chicago has agreed to terms with second-round offensive tackle Teven Jenkins and he’ll sign his rookie contract later today, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
As Rapsheet points out, that will wrap up the team’s draft class with all seven rookies being signed. The Bears drafted Jenkins 39th overall out of Oklahoma State. Chicago gave up a third-round pick to trade up with the Panthers from No. 52 and nab Jenkins.
Just a couple of days after drafting Jenkins the team released long-time tackle Charles Leno. They reportedly plan on plugging in Jenkins as a starter right away at left tackle. He’ll be tasked with protecting the blindside of Fields and/or Andy Dalton as a rookie.
Jenkins was a three-year starter at Oklahoma State and broke out this past season, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors. Germain Ifedi will start opposite him at right tackle.
NT Eddie Goldman No-Shows Bears Mandatory Minicamp
Nose tackle Eddie Goldman was a no-show at Bears mandatory minicamp today. Matt Nagy told reporters that he’s talked with the veteran defensive lineman, but the head coach also noted that the absence was unexcused (per Adam Jahns of The Athletic on Twitter). Nagy said he expects Goldman to be present during July’s training camp.
[RELATED: Allen Robinson To Show For Bears’ Minicamp]
Goldman signed a four-year, $42MM extension ($25MM guaranteed) with the Bears back in 2018. That deal was set to expire following the 2022 campaign, but the deal was extended to 2023 after the veteran sat out the 2020 campaign. As part of that move, Goldman agreed to a $350K stipend during the 2020 season, and his original 2020 salary of $4.75MM was pushed to 2021. It’s unknown if Goldman’s current absence is contract related, but this wrinkle could be a potential explanation.
The 2015 second-round pick has spent his entire career with the Bears, appearing in 67 games. Prior to sitting out the 2020 season, the veteran had only missed a pair of games between the 2017 and 2019 seasons, collecting 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and eight QB hits over that span.
Jimmy Graham Considered Retirement; Bears Wanted TE To Return
Following the Bears’ one-sided playoff loss to the Saints, Jimmy Graham debated stepping away from football after 11 NFL seasons. Bears decision-makers intervened to convince him to stay.
The veteran tight end briefly considered retirement, but Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace persuaded him to return, Adam Jahns of The Athletic tweets. Although Graham did not sound like he needed too much convincing to come back, the Bears still have the 34-year-old target in their plans.
Given a two-year deal worth $16MM (to the surprise of many) in March 2020, Graham helped a Bears team that had swung and missed on a few tight ends during the Pace regime. He caught 50 passes for 476 yards and eight touchdowns — his most TDs since 2017. The 6-foot-7 tight end added a score in the Bears’ playoff loss. While Graham is past his prime, he could well help Andy Dalton and Justin Fields as an auxiliary weapon.
The five-time Pro Bowler is due a $6.9MM base salary, and his cap number spikes to $10MM in 2021. Only Zach Ertz, whom the Eagles are expected to jettison, has a higher 2021 cap number ($12.7MM) among tight ends. The Bears also used a second-round pick on Cole Kmet last year. Nevertheless, Graham appears set to stay on as one of Allen Robinson‘s aerial sidekicks this coming season.
The former Saints, Seahawks and Packers tight end has totaled 82 career touchdown catches — fourth in NFL history among tight ends. Only Antonio Gates (116), Tony Gonzalez (111) and Rob Gronkowski (86) have more.
Jake Butt, E.J. Gaines, Mike Pennel At Bears’ Minicamp On Tryout Basis
The Bears have invited some well-known guests to their minicamp. They are working out five players — including tight end Jake Butt, cornerback E.J. Gaines and defensive tackle Mike Pennel — at their three-day mandatory session, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
This marks Butt’s second known workout of the offseason. The Michigan alum auditioned for the Cardinals recently. Although Butt starred for the Wolverines not that long ago, he has battled rampant injury trouble as a pro. The former Broncos draftee now has three career ACL tears, two coming in Denver, and has played in just eight games in four seasons.
Mixed signals have come out of Chicago regarding the team’s interest in adding a veteran cornerback. The Bears were believed to be interested in Bashaud Breeland, but he signed with the Vikings, and had Steven Nelson on the radar. But new DC Sean Desai also expressed confidence in his in-house cover men. Gaines has 38 career starts but has not played in a game since the 2018 season. The former Rams draftee opted out in 2020.
Pennel leads this group in experience. The veteran interior D-lineman spent the past two years with the Chiefs, making an impact for the two-time reigning AFC champions’ run defense. Pennel, 30, played 14 games with Kansas City last season. The former Packers and Jets defender has played seven NFL seasons.
The Bears are also working out two players who recently participated in The Spring League — tight end Sal Cannella and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. The team lists Wheatley as an offensive lineman, though the second-generation NFL hopeful played tight end at Michigan — as one of Butt’s backups — and Stony Brook. Chicago’s minicamp is scheduled to run through Thursday.
Bears Work Out LB Brandon Marshall
The NFL lost its Brandon Marshall base in 2019, following the wide receiver’s 13th season and the linebacker being unable to stick with a team after his seventh. But the latter continues to make inroads to a comeback.
After working out for the 49ers recently, Marshall auditioned for the Bears on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The 31-year-old linebacker has spent the offseason training in hopes of resuming his career, and he may be on the verge of receiving an opportunity.
A Super Bowl starter alongside current Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan with the 2015 Broncos, Marshall signed a subsequent extension to stay in Denver. He lasted three more seasons with the team, but injuries restricted him over the life of that contract. The Broncos cut bait in 2019. Although Marshall signed with the Raiders later that year, injuries again impeded him. The Raiders cut him ahead of the ’19 season.
Marshall has 63 starts on his resume, working his way from fifth-round pick to key cog on one of this era’s premier defenses. In an effort to ignite his comeback bid, Marshall attended a late-May showcase for NFL scouts in San Diego. That effort appears to have worked, but Marshall’s return to the league will hinge on his health. He missed five games in both the 2016 and ’18 seasons.
The former Jaguars draftee, however, has three 100-tackle seasons on his resume. And the Bears have seen both their starting inside ‘backers — Trevathan and Roquan Smith — battle injuries during their time as a duo. Chicago still has Christian Jones in place as a backup but has not addressed the position in the draft since 2018.
Allen Robinson To Show For Bears’ Minicamp
The Bears have a month to sign Allen Robinson to a long-term extension, and while his future in Chicago is murky, the franchise-tagged wide receiver will resurface at team headquarters this week.
Robinson intends to report to the Bears’ minicamp, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times notes, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the eighth-year pass catcher has arrived at Halas Hall (Twitter link). This certainly represents a positive sign for the Bears, with franchise-tagged players often skipping all offseason workouts and then staying away into training camp.
[RELATED: Allen Robinson Signs Franchise Tender]
Nothing much has transpired on the Robinson extension front. The sides have not been close to the same page on terms since negotiations began nearly a year ago, and Lieser adds they have made no progress toward a deal.
Like many players this offseason, Robinson stayed away from voluntary workouts. He was quick to sign his $17.9MM franchise tender, however, doing so amid rumors the Bears were pursuing Kenny Golladay. The ex-Lions weapon visited the Bears but ended up signing with the Giants. Robinson resides as the Bears’ clear-cut No. 1 target for a fourth straight year.
The Bears will count on Robinson to help first-round pick Justin Fields assimilate, even though it appears Andy Dalton will begin the season as Chicago’s QB1. Robinson, 27, has cleared 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. The Bears gave the ex-Jaguar a $14MM-per-year deal in 2018 but upset him during extension talks. His reporting for minicamp should be considered a good sign, but how the parties proceed at the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign extensions will be more telling about their prospects for a long-term partnership.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/21
We’ve got one small move to pass along as we wrap up the weekend:
Chicago Bears
- Cut: TE Darion Clark
The Bears elected to free up a roster spot. Clark is a converted D1 college basketball player who Chicago signed to a reserve/futures deal in 2020. He spent all of last season on injured reserve.
Bears Sign Justin Fields
It’s a done deal. On Thursday, the Bears struck agreement with first-round quarterback Justin Fields (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Per the terms of his slot, Fields will collect $17.9MM on his fully guaranteed four-year deal. That includes a healthy $11.1MM signing bonus for the No. 11 overall pick.
The Bears already had Andy Dalton heading into the draft, but they couldn’t pass up Fields. Meanwhile, Giants GM Dave Gettleman couldn’t resist the urge to trade. With that, the Bears moved up to No. 11 in exchange for pick No. 20, pick No. 164, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick.
Some evaluators preferred Zach Wilson and Trey Lance, who were the first QBs to come off the board after Trevor Lawrence. Regardless, the Bears were thrilled to land the Ohio State product. In just two short years as a Buckeye, he cemented himself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. The dual-threat QB threw for 5,373 yards, 63 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across 22 starts.
Now, the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year will try and work his magic in Chicago.
Bears Plan To Start Andy Dalton In Week 1
While early June is generally far too early for these sort of proclamations, the Bears continue to throw support behind their stopgap quarterback. Despite Chicago’s quarterback plans changing in late April, the team intends to honor a promise it made in March.
The Justin Fields draft choice notwithstanding, the Bears plan to keep the promise of starting Andy Dalton in Week 1, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. The Bears will play the Rams in Los Angeles in Week 1, opening the Sunday Night Football slate.
First-round quarterbacks generally take over quickly as rookies. The Bears did not waste much time giving the keys to Mitchell Trubisky four years ago, with the one-year North Carolina starter usurping free agency addition Mike Glennon by Week 5. This year, Bears GM Ryan Pace pledged Dalton — signed to a one-year, $10MM deal — would be the team’s starter. Of course, the team’s depth chart consisted of Dalton and Nick Foles at that point. Fields certainly throws a wrench into a lengthy Dalton stay atop the depth chart.
Matt Nagy said after the Fields pick he would like the Bears to use the Chiefs’ most recent QB-transition model, when Alex Smith started throughout Patrick Mahomes‘ rookie year. Nagy was Kansas City’s offensive coordinator that season. Comparing Fields and Mahomes is unwarranted at this point, but it would be surprising if the Ohio State standout remained on the bench for too long. The Kansas City model is quite rare, despite teams hoping to follow suit. Pace and Nagy entered the draft on scorching-hot seats. Their trade-up for Fields may have bought them some time, but the high-end prospect will almost certainly play early.
Only four quarterbacks chosen in Round 1 since 2011 — when that year’s CBA changed first-rounders’ earnings and timelines — did not become a primary starter in Year 1: Mahomes, Jake Locker (2011), Johnny Manziel (2014) and Paxton Lynch (2016). All but Locker started at least one game as rookies. The 27 other first-round QBs from 2011-20 started at least six games, with 22 of those starting at least 10. Although Dalton has nine-plus seasons as a starter and is reuniting with Bears OC Bill Lazor, recent history shows the 33-year-old passer does not figure to be long for the Bears’ QB1 post.