Ranking 5 NFL rookie first-round quarterbacks in preseason debuts

1. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears

After his NFL preseason debut, Bears quarterback Justin Fields said the game felt “slow” after he was practicing with the Chicago defense every day. Watching him, however, that didn’t appear to be the case right out of the chute as the Ohio State product looked rushed and made a few mistakes, including a lackadaisical rush that led to a fumble that the Bears recovered.

It’s not how you start, though; it’s how you finish. And Fields finished with a better performance than any of his fellow first-round rookie quarterbacks. The game actually did seem to be moving much slower later as he was going through his reads, making smart plays, showcasing his rushing ability and simply making the right plays.

All told, Fields finished the night going 14-of-20 for 142 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while also taking no sacks and in addition to running for 33 yards and another score on five carries.

The Bears made a bold but necessary call to trade up to No. 11 as Fields was slipping down the draft board. They hoped he could be the franchise quarterback they’ve been lacking for so, so long. And we’re not going to overreact and say definitively that he’s such a player but Justin Fields definitely allowed everyone to see his dynamic ability and elite talent in his preseason debut.