Regrading the Chicago Bears’ 2021 NFL Draft class

The general rule of thumb is that you can’t truly evaluate an NFL draft class until three years have passed. A fan or analyst can give their first impressions, but a fair evaluation takes time.

Now that three seasons have passed since the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s time to look back at the much-hyped Chicago Bears’ draft class and reevaluate how the Bears did with the benefit of hindsight.

Justin Fields: F

Time to call a spade a spade. Fields was, unfortunately, a bust for Chicago, though he may be able to revitalize his career in Pittsburgh. It’s fair to blame the organization. Frankly, then-GM Ryan Pace should have already been fired or at least not allowed to trade up for a quarterback. Fields went into a bad situation but did not do enough to keep his starting job after three seasons, so this pick gets an F.

Teven Jenkins: B+

I wanted to give this an A, but the continued injury concerns with Jenkins in the NFL can’t be ignored. When healthy, he’s one of the very best guards in the league. Unfortunately, he has missed multiple games every year so far, leaving open the possibility that he will be a free agent after this season.

Larry Borom: C+

For a 5th-round offensive tackle, Borom has been fine. He was okay as a starter for a while but has since been relegated to the role of backup swing tackle, which is probably where he’s best suited. Not a bad pick.

Khalil Herbert: A

Easily the cream of the crop for Chicago’s 2021 draft class. Drafted in the 6th round, Herbert has since been the starting running back for the past two seasons, racking up 1,533 total yards and eight touchdowns since 2022. He may have lost his starting role to D’Andre Swift, and so far it seems like GM Ryan Poles doesn’t prefer to give contract extensions to running backs, but Herbert will still have a long NFL career somewhere.

Dazz Newsome: D-

A fan favorite during the 2021 offseason, Newsome ended up on the practice squad. In his rookie year, he caught just two passes and returned a handful of punts. Since then, he has gone to Kansas City and San Francisco and is now signed to the Canadian Football League. It’s safe to say this pick was a bust, but as a sixth-round draft selection, that’s not surprising.

Thomas Graham Jr: C

Another fan favorite, Graham got to play a bit in his rookie year and even flashed some real potential, earning an 84.5 grade from Pro Football Focus in four games played. Unfortunately, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns after just one season in Chicago and is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Khyiris Tonga: DL

Like Graham, Tonga flashed some real potential as a rookie but was another casualty of the regime change from Ryan Pace to Ryan Poles. He ended up in Minnesota, where he appeared to have a breakout season in 2022, earning a 77.9 grade from PFF. But after a small regression in 2023, he is now with the Arizona Cardinals. Fun fact: he’s the third former Chicago defensive tackle signed by Arizona this offseason, as they also acquired Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols.

Overall Grade: C-

At one point, four of Chicago’s seven picks were starters, and it seemed like this draft class would go down as an all-time great one. As of 2024, however, only three are still with the team: Jenkins, Borom, and Herbert. Borom is already a backup, and the long-term future of both Jenkins and Herbert in Chicago is in doubt.

There was some fine talent in this class, but uncertainty and Justin Fields’s failure to live up to his potential dragged the grade down to barely passing.

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