Stroud opposes Bears drafting him, defends Fields: ‘That’s his group’

C.J Stroud and Justin Fields spent only one 12 months collectively at Ohio State. That would not diminish how a lot the Buckeye brotherhood means to Stroud as he embarks on a profession within the NFL.

Widely projected to go within the prime 10 of the 2023 draft, Stroud was not too long ago requested about the opportunity of being chosen by the Chicago Bears. The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist defended his former Buckeyes teammate whereas additionally making it clear he isn’t considering enjoying within the Windy City this 12 months and taking Fields’ job.

“I don’t want to go there. That’s his team,” Stroud instructed reporters when requested concerning the concept of changing Fields in Chicago. “I’ve got to do my thing and I’ve got to go build my legacy. He texted me yesterday morning. Me and him are brothers for life.”

Stroud wasn’t accomplished backing his Buckeyes brethren, noting that Fields advanced into extra of a runner final 12 months as a result of he was below fixed duress.

“You have to make plays with your feet and he ain’t no damn running back,” Stroud stated. “He’s a quarterback. He can sling that rock,” 

The Bears personal the No. 1 choose on this 12 months’s draft, and there was loads of hypothesis surrounding what the group will do with it. Chicago common supervisor Ryan Poles stated earlier this week that preserving Fields is “the plan right now,” but in addition famous the membership is doing its homework on this 12 months’s QB prospects. Naturally, a number of groups have an interest within the prime choose ought to the Bears determine to commerce down.

“We have flexibility where if there’s opportunities where if we can turn that into a lot of players that come in and help us, we can do that,” Poles stated. “If it’s staying put or really being selective with certain people, we can do that as well. I know my expectation, our expectation, is that we move the needle to be more successful. We can win some of these close games and bring in guys that can impact this football team.”

Fields, who is about to enter his third season within the NFL, took a notable step ahead in 2022, throwing for two,242 yards and 17 touchdowns. The former No. 11 general choose added 1,143 yards on the bottom and eight dashing scores, changing into simply the third QB in NFL historical past to prime the 1,000-yard dashing mark. Thus, Chicago is likely to be extra inclined to maintain its younger QB reasonably than reset with a rookie.

FOX Sports NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali not too long ago checked out 5 potential commerce companions for the highest choose. The Indianapolis Colts had been the main candidate primarily based off the haul they might provide in alternate for choosing first general.

“This scenario would likely net Chicago the best balance of a sizable return while also securing a franchise-changing prospect,” Vitali stated. “Though it’s only three spots, I surmised that the Bears could push for a future first-round pick in 2024 along with a second or third-round pick this year and a Day 2 or 3 pick next.”

While hypothesis surrounding the Bears will doubtless proceed main as much as the draft, historical past reveals that shifting the highest choose is extraordinarily uncommon. In reality, the No. 1 choose has been dealt simply twice over the previous 26 years. It final occurred in 2016, when the Los Angeles Rams traded for as much as No. 1 to pick Jared Goff out of Cal. The earlier occasion was in 2001, when the Atlanta Falcons moved up from No. 2 to pick Michael Vick first general.

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