Bears general manager Ryan Pace threw draft analysts for a loop with his aggressive move up from 20th to 11th in the first round to select Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
“I had lots of Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy jokes pre-written, and the Bears just ruined them,” wrote veteran draft analyst Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders. “This was a great decision at a critical moment for that organization.”
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. listed the Bears first among his “winners” in the first round.
“The Bears gave up some major [draft] capital,” Kiper wrote in his first-round review.