Are the Chicago Bears going to draft a quarterback in the 1st round? Only they know the answer to that and they aren’t talking. One thing is clear though. Like any smart team that needs a QB, they’re doing their homework on every notable prospect. Even ones that may or may not be out of their reach. One of them is Heisman finalist and national champion Mac Jones.
The Alabama standout confirmed that he met with the Bears at some point since the Senior Bowl. According to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune, he seemed to really enjoy the meeting. It wasn’t awkward in any notable way. Just a bunch of guys talking football. That seemed to leave an impression with Jones who indicated his hope that he gets to meet them again before the draft.
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones has met with the Bears and called it "a great meeting."
"We just talked football for an hour straight. That's the best type of meeting for me. … Hopefully I'll get a chance to talk to them more and see where that relationship goes."
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) March 29, 2021
This isn’t the first time a QB prospect praised the Bears.
Former Jaguars 6th round pick Gardner Minshew also revealed how enjoyable his own meeting was back in 2019. He singled out head coach Matt Nagy as somebody he connected with immediately. This shouldn’t be a surprise. Nagy is a former quarterback himself. He speaks that language and is also highly personable. Somebody that is easy to like.
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Combine that with the presence of John DeFilippo, one of the more respected quarterback coaches in the NFL? It’s not hard to understand why Jones seemed to gel with them right away. Chemistry is always important between coaching staff and quarterback. The two sides appear to have hit it off right away. Could this mean something next month?
Mac Jones is the biggest wild card of this QB class
In terms of accomplishments? Only Trevor Lawrence surpasses him. The Crimson Tide starter threw 41 touchdowns in 2020 and won his team a championship. Yet experts remain split on where he should go. Many believe he’s destined for the top 10 with some even predicting he’ll go #3 overall to the San Francisco 49ers. Others think he goes somewhere between #8 (Carolina) and #15 (New England).
Is there a chance he somehow drops to #20 where the Bears pick? Anything is possible. Quarterbacks fall every year for one reason or another. In regards to Jones, his primary issue is his ceiling. Most view him as a high floor quarterback but with not much room to grow. His size, arm strength, and athleticism fall in the category of average. His biggest strengths involve intelligence, instinct, and accuracy.
While that might not be enough for some, would it be for the Bears?
That is the big question. Nagy himself said leadership and decision-making were the two most important things a quarterback requires for him. Athleticism is important but not something he views as vital. If this is true, then one can surmise Mac Jones is higher on their board than some might think. If the Alabama quarterback did tumble down the board, it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Chicago jumped up to grab him. He could slide in behind Andy Dalton and become the heir apparent down the line.