With all the talk about the trade market and free agency, nobody has discussed anything in regards to what the Chicago Bears will do in the draft. It’s become a secondary discussion which is amazing to think about considering it’s the first time they’re back in the 1st round since 2018. This would normally be a momentous thing for Chicago draft fans to celebrate. Instead, it’s hardly being talked about. That is how crazy this offseason is.
No doubt the driving force behind it is the situation of the two men at the top. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy managed to avoid the ax, securing another year from George McCaskey despite a disappointing finish to 2020. One that saw them go from 5-1 to 8-9 and thumped in the playoffs. While that is good news for them, it’s also a clear message.
Do better in 2021 or you won’t be so lucky next time.
This is why people are convinced Pace will be aggressive. Hence the Bears being connected to every major quarterback on the veteran market. It started with Deshaun Watson, then moved to Matthew Stafford, and now it’s Carson Wentz. Thus far little of this has come from the actual Bears beat and mostly second-hand accounts and speculating national guys. The truth is nobody knows for sure what Pace has planned.
So here’s a question. Is it possible the Bears’ actual target may exist in the NFL draft? There are reasons to think so. Rookies are much cheaper and have long-term value. Also if the team were able to get one and have him be productive right away, it could convince ownership that the organization is finally facing in the right direction. This might explain why Todd McShay of ESPN has them trading up for one in his latest mock draft.
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“Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
This would tie the earliest that five quarterbacks have been drafted in the common draft era (1999), but the Bears didn’t want to risk missing out on the player I consider the final Round 1-worthy QB. If there is a run on quarterbacks, and Wentz goes to Indianapolis or elsewhere, then the Bears have to do what they have to do here…
…Jones had a fantastic 41-to-4 TD-INT ratio and led the nation in Total QBR at 96.1. He anticipates well and has a nice touch on his deep throws, and Chicago would hope he can spark one of the NFL’s least efficient offenses.”
Jones would fit the Chicago Bears preferences
Make no mistake. The Alabama quarterback is going to be a divisive figure in this draft. His production was outstanding in 2020 and a lot of his film was really impressive. His comfort in the pocket, ability to elude pressure, field vision and accuracy were all high points of his game. What has people concerned is how much of that was him and how much was being surrounded by outstanding talent.
There is a real possibility four or five offensive teammates Jones had will be 1st round picks including his two wide receivers and his running back. The guy had an ideal setup. Taking full advantage of it was a good thing but he won’t have all those advantages when he gets to the NFL. Does he have enough talent to compensate for that? Plenty of scouts and personnel people seem skeptical. He’s not the biggest and isn’t a premier athlete either. His arm strength is fine but not head-turning.
The production says 1st round pick but the talent does not.
Are the Chicago Bears really prepared to take that gamble? They may not have a choice. McShay believes it’s possible that four quarterbacks could go in the top four picks of the draft. So if Jones managed to fall outside of the top 10 (#12 in this case), then Pace would have little choice but to go get him. Plenty of fans would not like the move, but it wouldn’t be totally crazy. Jones’ style of play fits Chicago’s West Coast-style offense. He understands where to go with the football.
He also protects it and is a winner. Maybe opting for the proven producer this time is the right play.