The Chicago Bears are still in the infant stages of rookie minicamp at Halas Hall but through two days, Chicago’s 2021 NFL Draft class has continued to make headlines, even impressing head coach Matt Nagy. Rookies have always had a tough time transitioning to the NFL but the Bears rookie class appears to be ahead of the game, which gives hope for a team that’s looking to become an offensive powerhouse with quarterback Justin Fields leading the way.
“It’s a lot different when you’re not there in person,” Nagy said via the Bears official Youtube page. “You can still see the video, you can still get a feel for what the tempo is like. Listening to the other coaches, this evening, we’re going to get together and go through, as a staff, the guys we’re seeing and what we might have. It’s always the beauty of these camps, being able to see, whether it’s a drafted guy but a lot of times an undrafted guy that might grab your attention and be somebody that you might want to keep on the team and move forward with.”
The spotlight for the Bears rookie class will always be on Fields but wide receiver Dazz Newsome, a sixth-round pick from the University of North Carolina appears to be having a solid minicamp as well. In what is a loaded wide receiver room, the hope is that Newsome stands out and becomes another day three pick who turns into a solid contributor for the Bears.
“Honestly, really just, sticking to the script,” Newsome said. “Really just me being in the spot, me doing what my coach tells me to do and he [Fields] was putting them on the money. I just got to work hard and let everything play out.”
Newsome and Fields are only two of a handful of rookies that have been at Halas Hall over the weekend. The Bears coaching staff sees potential in the rookie class, especially sixth-round pick, running back Khalil Herbert who can be an impact player on either special teams or on offense.
“They really want me to come in here and learn as much as I can,” Herbert said. “Establish a role on special teams, they’re really big on that. Getting in my playbook, learning as much as I can to help contribute to the team in some way or form”.
There’s still a long way to go before the Bears officially open up preseason, which will give us an idea of where the rookie class is at versus some real NFL competition but after just two days of minicamp, it’s clear the Bears’ coaching staff views the rookie class as one that could turn the tide for the Bears in the long-run.