Anybody who is tired of the conversations about the Chicago Bears and quarterbacks in the upcoming draft better get used to them. They aren’t going away. That’s what happens when Andy Dalton was your only meaningful addition to the most important position on the roster. Especially if it’s just a one-year deal. Everything about this situation screams that GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy have something bigger planned.
They almost have to right? Looking at the composition of this team, there is little difference from the one that finished 8-8 last season. They changed quarterbacks from Mitch Trubisky to Dalton and released Kyle Fuller. Outside of that, it’s mostly the same roster. Except their primary core of players is a year older. It’s going to be difficult to convince a lot of Bears fans to brave the COVID-19 risks and parting with their money selling a team like this.
So what is the best way to get them invested?
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune provided the obvious answer. According to his sources, several prominent people around the league are convinced the Bears have their eyes fixed squarely on getting a quarterback. Not at some point during the draft either. In the 1st round. Not only do they want to find the future of this franchise. They want to make a splash doing so.
“There has been sentiment around the NFL for a few weeks that the Bears are plotting a move for a quarterback, that Pace and Nagy view that as their best chance to spark a turnaround while also providing hope for the future. The Bears could continue with their plan to start Dalton while bringing along a rookie, hoping the veteran performs well enough that they don’t have to turn to a draft pick in an effort to try to save jobs.”
The way the team has operated for the past few weeks lends some credence to this. Pace and Nagy were both spotted at the North Dakota State pro day watching Trey Lance. Pace appeared at the Alabama pro day to see Mac Jones. Nagy then popped up at Ohio State to see Justin Fields. One of those three will go to the San Francisco 49ers at #3 overall. So the Bears will then likely see if they can move up for one for the other two.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Chicago Bears are living quite dangerously
Pace has already given up a ton of draft capital in bold trades before. Three additional picks for Mitch Trubisky. A future 2nd for Anthony Miller. Multiple 1sts for Khalil Mack. It’s an extensive list that has eaten into the team’s ability to keep their roster stockpiled with younger, cheaper talent. That is why they have the second-oldest roster in the NFL. Giving up more high future picks is an incredible risk at this stage.
Granted, if they hit on the quarterback then everything becomes much easier to deal with. However, if they whiff yet again? This team could be in store for a long period of losing with their coffers all but drained for the foreseeable future. Still, it’s hard to fault them. The Chicago Bears franchise has been at the mercy of their quarterback position for way too long. They want to fix it once and for all. Spending any resource necessary to do so is the correct mindset.
Even if the risk is insanely high.
There are two types of teams in the NFL. Teams that have quarterbacks and teams that don’t. Those that do often find themselves competing for championships. That is where the Bears want to be. They’re tired of living at the mercy of Aaron Rodgers and others. Will it be Fields? Jones? Lance? There is no way to know. All anybody can do is hope that whoever it is ends up being who the Bears ultimately envision.