Unusual occurrence at a presser at the NFL’s Scouting Combine: one of the top quarterbacks makes it clear to reporters that a team should absolutely not draft him.

The Chicago Bears have the first pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. They are unlikely to select a quarterback with that pick, as the franchise already has its playmaker with promising assets in Justin Fields.

Should Chicago change their mind, one of the top prospects for the team has a clear message.

It’s not often that one of the best players in the upcoming talent draft clearly tells a team not to pick him, but that’s exactly what has now happened at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

During a media roundtable, playmaker C.J. Stroud made his opinion on the Bears pretty clear: “I don’t want to go there,” he told reporters.

Stroud doesn’t want to go to the Chicago Bears

But what does the 21-year-old have against the team from the NFC North? The reason is simple: Bears starting quarterback Fields and Stroud are close friends.

“This is his team,” the rookie explained in response, “I can do my own thing. I can build my legacy. He just texted me on Thursday, we’re brothers for life.”

Fields was a starter at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020, with Stroud his backup in his second year. When Fields eventually left the team, backup and buddy Stroud took over the starter role.