The Chicago Bears still believe they can rebound and get back on a winning track. That is fine. They’re supposed to think that way. However, most people who cover the team have reached a different conclusion. They aren’t very good. This roster has way too many holes that can’t be plugged with any amount of scheming. Worse, the upcoming schedule gets brutal, with several playoff contenders looming. Many feel like a top five pick is more likely than a playoff run at this point.
An important topic of discussion is whether the Bears are bad enough to contend for the #1 overall pick. This franchise hasn’t held that slot since 1947. There are plenty of other teams in contention for it. The Carolina Panthers look like the heavy favorites as they continue dismantling their roster with trades. Chicago has the worst passing attack in the league, the worst run defense, and a nasty final 11 games. They’re in the mix, for sure. Even some people in the media would like to see them get that pick.
Jordan Reid of ESPN is one of them.
He was asked which team he wanted to see land #1 overall. He chose the Bears. Why? Primarily because it would cause all sorts of chaos.
“Chicago Bears. It’s clear the franchise lacks talent on both sides of the ball, but a lot of the focus has been on the offense’s lackluster performances. Quarterback Justin Fields hasn’t shown any signs of growth, but there’s plenty of blame to go around. Outside of Darnell Mooney, the Bears don’t have any consistent perimeter threats, and the offensive line is still going through growing pains.
If Chicago does end up with the top overall pick (13.9% chance, per ESPN’s Football Power Index), it makes for an interesting debate. Do the Bears select a quarterback and effectively move on from Fields? Remember, general manager Ryan Poles doesn’t have any ties to him. Do they instead try to trade back in hopes of acquiring more picks to instead build around Fields? Or would Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. be a possibility for a defense struggling to get pressure (25.9%, 26th in the NFL)?”
The Chicago Bears aren’t likely to embrace tanking.
GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have insisted from the start that this team will always try to win every single game. While the Bears likely won’t do much of that in the coming weeks, it’s a safe assumption they’ll win at least two or three more. That would put them at five wins, which never lands the #1 overall pick. This team would need three or fewer to be guaranteed a shot. Remember, they went 3-13 in 2016, which was still only good enough for the 3rd overall pick.
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If that event did come to pass, Reid is correct. It would create all sorts of confusion. Nobody would be able to predict what Poles would do. He could easily pick his preferred QB and move on from Justin Fields. He could shop that pick to any other team that wants a quarterback, or he can add what many consider to be the next great pass rusher. Will Anderson has drawn multiple comparisons to Von Miller. It would be a wild few months of speculation.
