The Chicago Bears went into 2020 looking for some sort of confirmation at the quarterback position. Technically, they got it. Maybe it wasn’t the answer they wanted but at least they have clarity. Nobody on the roster is their long-term solution. They traded for Nick Foles in March hoping he would either light a fire under Mitch Trubisky or perhaps become that Alex Smith-type of guy for Matt Nagy.
Neither has happened. Trubisky kept the starting job at the beginning of the season but lost it after less than three games. Foles came in and played well at first but has really begun to struggle in recent weeks. The victim of an undermanned offensive line and his own recklessness. Now Trubisky is hurt on top of that.
These two aren’t the future.
That is why expectations continue to grow that the Bears will be in the market for a QB next offseason. Most likely during the NFL draft. It could be a good time to want one. Recent estimates say upwards of five or even six 2021 prospects could go in the 1st round. However, there is a degree of separations between the first four and final two.
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So if the Chicago Bears brass want a favorable chance of getting a real difference-maker, they need to hope one of those four fall to them. The problem is, as is the case every year, there are lots of teams that need quarterbacks. So which ones do they need to worry about?
Chicago Bears have a lot of obstacles in their way
Locks:
New York Jets (#1)
This shouldn’t be a shock to anybody. The Jets are on track to hold the #1 pick and the prize of the entire draft is Clemson star Trevor Lawrence. Easily the best QB prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck. With Sam Darnold struggling and now injured? It would be a gigantic shock if Lawrence isn’t wearing green by next April.
Washington Football Team (#6)
This was made clear when Ron Rivera made the decision to bench Dwayne Haskins. The former 1st round pick saw the entire regime that drafted him fired after his rookie season. So his status there was immediately placed in question. Now that he’s likely to get traded at some point, the Football Team is primed to go get what they hope to be their new franchise guy.
New England Patriots (#9)
People were confident the Patriots had delivered a masterstroke in the wake of losing Tom Brady when they signed Cam Newton for pennies. As it turns out, they got him cheap for a reason. The former MVP looks like a shell of his former self. That organization needs fresh blood at quarterback. There is no reason to think they won’t go for one early.
Strong possibilities:
New York Giants (#2)
Big Blue drafted Daniel Jones in hopes he’d be their fixture for years to come. The former Duke quarterback has flashed a ton of promise, but he can’t seem to get over his turnover problems. Granted, he’s not exactly surrounded by a wealth of talent but it might be too tempting for the Giants to resist resetting at QB with such a high pick projected to them.
Jacksonville Jaguars (#3)
Even though they traded Nick Foles, it never really felt like the Jaguars brass were 100% bought into Gardner Minshew as their long-term starter. He’s a smart player, an accurate passer, and a charismatic leader to be sure. Still, he has physical limitations that can’t be ignored. Can they really pass up a chance to get a more talented QB if they pick this high again?
San Francisco (#15)
The buzz on Jimmy Garoppolo’s future with the 49ers really began after losing the Super Bowl. A game in which he played poorly. Since then the QB has endured further injury problems. Something that has become a theme for him in recent years. Kyle Shanahan is undoubtedly tired of going through a QB carousel. Despite Garoppolo’s problematic contract, the 49ers may look to the future.
Wild cards:
Miami Dolphins (#4)
“But wait1” I hear people shouting. The Dolphins just got done drafting Tua Tagovailoa. Why would they bother drafting a QB again in 2021? This is part of why Miami is playing their #5 overall pick so soon. This allows them to get an extensive look at what they may or may not have. Is Tua the future? If there are enough warning signs he isn’t, then they have a possible second top 5 pick to quickly rectify the mistake.
Dallas Cowboys (#5)
Pretty much everybody expects Dallas to give Dak Prescott his money. Especially after watching how awful that offense is without him. That being said, the team has been resistant to handing him $40 million per year. Some don’t think he’s talented enough to warrant that much cash. Having a top 5 pick could offer them a way out, but it would come with a significant degree of risk.
Minnesota Vikings (#10)
The Vikings just got done extending Kirk Cousins’ contract. So he isn’t going anywhere for some time. A mistake they no doubt wish they could have back in hindsight. Even so, the possibility is there they may try to grab his successor while in a position to do so. It’s not crazy to think a team seeking a veteran QB with credibility might be willing to trade for Cousins. This would enable Minnesota to have their heir apparent in hand.
So yeah. The Chicago Bears may not be able to stand still next spring if they want to get their next guy.
