Nobody can say for sure how things will end up going, but signs are at least pointing to what the Chicago Bears have planned at quarterback. Mitch Trubisky will be the starter in 2020, as GM Ryan Pace said. Changes though will be coming to the depth chart behind him. Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray served their purpose of helping him learn Matt Nagy’s offense. Now the priorities have shifted. Not only do they need a capable backup or backups, but also some possible safety valves in case Trubisky continues his disappointing stretch from this past season.
The question is where will the Bears get this insurance policy? Most believe it will come in free agency via a cheap veteran of some kind. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report though thinks they could hit it big if they take a calculated risk with one of their 2nd round picks in the draft. There is one name he believes would be perfect. Not only as a clear message to Trubisky that his time is running out, but also giving the team a possible long-term option.
“A second-round investment in a quality, young option to develop is a different conversation, especially since the Bears have two second-rounders in this year’s draft.
Utah State’s Jordan Love didn’t perform as well as expected in 2019. The early entrant posted a 20-to-17 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His natural skill set is obvious, though.
Love would give the Bears a safety net, while the front office could say he’s a developmental project to avoid immediately challenging Trubisky.”
Love would be a fascinating threat to Mitch Trubisky
Bears fans will have heard this song and dance before. The general consensus on Jordan Love is that he is a gifted player. Size? Mobility? Arm strength? He has it all. He can deliver some pinpoint passes at all levels of the field and has an improvisational skill many QBs lack. Sounds great, right? Here’s the problem. Love was asked by a new coaching staff in 2019 to be more of a processor at quarterback. That is to say, go through reads and find second or third options. It didn’t go too well.
After throwing 32 touchdowns and just six interceptions as a sophomore in 2018, Love regressed to just 20 touchdowns with 17 interceptions in 2019. This showed a lot of people that despite having 1st round talent, the 21-year old is not ready for the NFL. This is why many see him as a Day 2 option, most likely somewhere in the 2nd round.
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While there is no denying he could develop into a quality football player, many Bears fans will take one look at him and his reputation and think he’s just another Trubisky. A talented athlete with a great arm who can’t read or process defenses.
There is some room for optimism though.
Love was playing on a bad team in 2019. He had no protection and no weapons. Yet he still managed to finish the year on a high note with seven touchdowns and three interceptions over the final three weeks of the season including a win in the Frisco Bowl over Kent State. So it seemed like he was starting to grasp the offense a bit better.
The Bears recently overhauled their staff, adding lots of quarterback expertise in the forms of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. Together with Dave Ragone and Nagy himself, Love would be getting a first-class education on how to be an NFL quarterback from the jump. While he does show the same characteristics Trubisky did back in 2017, that doesn’t mean the end result will be the same.
Will Chicago draft him? Doubtful. If they do though, it’s at least an admission they’re trying to get better. The team will get their first good look at Love down at the Senior Bowl in Alabama next week.
