Bears Backup QB Rips Absurd NFL Draft Opinion About Young QBs

Tyson Bagent calls out analysts for saying they'd take unproven Fernando Mendoza over Caleb Williams in clutch situations.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 6:50pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football quarterback in motion, their form broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, orange, and white, conveying the high-pressure drama of a late-game, clutch play.A cubist interpretation of a quarterback's game-winning heroics captures the intensity and drama of late-game heroics.Chicago Today

Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent took to social media to criticize NFL Draft analysts Joel Klatt and Todd McShay for claiming they would take likely 2026 No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza over Bears starter Caleb Williams in late-game, clutch situations. Bagent argued this assessment is laughable given Williams' proven track record of leading multiple game-winning drives for the playoff-contending Bears last season.

Why it matters

The debate over which young quarterback prospects are best suited to perform in high-pressure, late-game scenarios is an important one for NFL teams evaluating talent. Bagent's strong reaction highlights how some analysts may be overvaluing unproven prospects compared to QBs who have already demonstrated their clutch abilities at the professional level.

The details

In the 2025 season, Bears QB Caleb Williams led seven game-winning drives, including a crucial overtime-forcing touchdown pass against the Rams in the playoffs. Meanwhile, 2026 projected top pick Fernando Mendoza has never taken an NFL snap. NFL Draft analysts Joel Klatt and Todd McShay still claimed they would take Mendoza over Williams in late-game situations, a take that Bagent vehemently disagreed with on social media.

  • In the 2025 NFL season, Caleb Williams led 7 game-winning drives for the Bears.
  • In the 2025 NFL playoffs, Williams threw a game-tying TD pass to force overtime against the Rams.

The players

Caleb Williams

The starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who led multiple game-winning drives in the 2025 season and playoffs.

Tyson Bagent

The backup quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who criticized NFL Draft analysts for their assessment of Williams versus unproven prospect Fernando Mendoza.

Joel Klatt

An NFL Draft analyst for Fox Sports.

Todd McShay

An NFL Draft analyst for ESPN.

Fernando Mendoza

A highly touted quarterback prospect projected to be the 2026 NFL Draft's No. 1 overall pick.

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What they’re saying

“Just what are these two gentlemen talking about?”

— Tyson Bagent, Bears Backup QB

The takeaway

This debate highlights the importance of evaluating young quarterback prospects not just on their potential, but on their proven ability to perform in high-pressure, late-game situations at the NFL level. Analysts must be careful not to overvalue unproven talent compared to QBs who have already demonstrated clutch abilities for their teams.