The Chicago Bears were likely aware of Tyson Bagent long before meeting him in person. That happens when you set Division II passing records in college. However, their infatuation with him likely began at the Senior Bowl, where offensive coordinator Luke Getsy got the chance to coach him for an entire week. The ball started rolling from there. While Bagent wasn't drafted, the Bears quickly pitched him on joining their team as an undrafted free agent. He agreed. Most considered the Shepherd star the best QB available.
Nobody was sure what to expect. Justin Fields was the obvious starter. P.J. Walker seemed entrenched as the backup. That meant Bagent's best hope was outplaying Nathan Peterman for the third quarterback spot. Nobody saw the past two weeks coming. Not only has the rookie looked sharp, but he's outperformed both Peterman and Walker by a comfortable margin. Seeing how calm and poised he looks on the field is impressive. Then again, if you'd listened to him before the draft, you wouldn't be surprised.
Bagent's confidence was crystal clear, as this interview with Justin Melo of The Draft Network shows.
"I was able to lead the team and our offense on a yearly basis. I was able to win the starting job at a young age. I have a ton of experience.
I have the repetition. I have the numbers. I was able to put up the type of numbers that thankfully grabbed the attention of scouts around the nation. People at the highest level respect my game. I’m trying to prove those who know what I’m capable of right. And to those who are talking about the small school narrative, I’m looking to prove that I’m right on par with any quarterback in this class."
Bagent's mentality as a quarterback is not what you'd consider normal. Most young guys always like searching for the big play. They love showing off that arm. Not Bagent. He seems to delight in slowly torturing the defense with minor cuts until they're completely spent.
"I’ve always approached the game with a mindset to take every inch of what the defense gives me. You take what they’re willing to give. As long as you play fast and take advantage of those opportunities, the big shot plays and the aggressive plays will eventually come. It’s a smoother process.
You don’t need to stress about it. It will come naturally. You stress the defense by taking what they’re willing to give you. It wears them down."
Tyson Bagent proved this approach last Saturday.
The 92-yard scoring drive he engineered encompassed 17 plays. The rookie did a great job of balancing the run and the pass, keeping the defense guessing as to what was coming. Four of his passes resulted in first downs, and a quarterback sneak resulted in another. By the end of the drive, it was clear that the defense was getting gassed. That is when he used his legs to scamper untouched into the end zone for a score. It was a surgical drive. One you'd expect from a 10-year veteran, not an undrafted rookie.
That was the first indication the Bears may have stumbled onto something interesting. It is way too early to proclaim Tyson Bagent the second coming of Tom Brady or Joe Montana. Yet the evidence is hard to ignore that he has potential. He's 6'3, has decent speed as a runner, an above-average arm, and throws with pinpoint accuracy. If that weren't enough, he demonstrates good command of the offense and makes good decisions before and after the snap.
There are things to work on. His footwork in the pocket isn't there yet, which is hardly a surprise. He needs a year of development. Still, the building blocks are there for at least a high-quality backup. Maybe even more.
