At the end of the day nobody knows entirely what the Chicago Bears draft strategy really is. Since they hold the #3 overall pick, the odds have to be good that they know who’d they would take at that spot. Sure it’s still another month before the NFL draft takes place. Then again evaluations should be wrapped up soon with pro days concluding across the country.
So much of what they have planned depends heavily on a single, uncontrollable factor. What will the San Francisco 49ers do with their #2 overall pick? Everybody pretty much knows what’s going to happen at #1. The Cleveland Browns are locked in on pass rusher Myles Garrett, as they should be. That means it falls to the 49ers on deciding the direction of the top 10 picks and beyond.
The $64,000 question is will they take a quarterback? Well there is reason to believe that they won’t. Several sources have indicated the new regime of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan aren’t going to reach at that position. Especially with so many needs across the roster. If they go for a top prospect at another position, that would mean every quarterback would be available at #3. This would suit the Bears just fine, but not for the reason people think.
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Bears draft strategy hinges on QB availability
There is nothing that drives up the value of a draft pick, especially in the first round than the availability of quarterbacks. Even in a weaker class like 2017, imagine how much more value #3 would have if teams knew it was the ticket to get any QB in the class they wanted? It’s an easy sell. With teams like the Jets and Browns sorely needing help at that position, and the Jaguars flirting with the idea of replacing Blake Bortles, the Bears would have tons of leverage were this to happen.
After being unable to strike it big in free agency, GM Ryan Pace knows he needs a power move of some kind in the draft to infuse his roster with more talent. Moving down from #3 and collecting a series of extra picks would grab lots of attention. Not to mention secure more chances at acquiring really good players in a really deep draft class.
All word has been they like the quarterbacks, but not enough to take one that high. That may be different for one of the other teams. This is where the subtle brilliance of signing Mike Glennon comes into play. He at least gives Chicago more flexibility. They no longer need to draft one high. Looking at New York or Cleveland? No way they could say the same.
JETS: Josh McCown, Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg
BROWNS: Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler, Kevin Hogan
Keep in mind Chicago has been crafty in their approach to the draft, meeting with every top prospect. They even had the full brass of Pace, John Fox, Dowell Loggains and Dave Ragone at Clemson to watch Deshaun Watson. If the Bears are interested in a move down, and there’s plenty of reason to think they are, it shouldn’t be hard to facilitate a deal. All it takes is one team to see the benefit of getting a pick that is the ticket their quarterback of choice. At that point it all becomes about the price.
