The answer to the critical quarterback problem in Chicago could be much simpler than most fans realize, and it all starts with Brian Hoyer.
The Chicago Bears have four quarterbacks set to hit the free agent market… four. In addition to that, most expect Jay Cutler to be cut or traded before the 2017 season begins. That leaves a huge hole for Ryan Pace and his staff to fill this off-season.
There are several different routes to fixing this problem and most involve a high level of risk. Putting all your hope into a rookie quarterback could be a recipe for disaster, especially with the weak class this year, and trading the farm for an unproven veteran in Jimmy Garoppolo or an off-injured Tony Romo might set the franchise back even further.
So, inevitably, the question becomes ‘what should Pace do?’
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Let’s think about this for a moment. An interesting stat worth considering is the following:
The youngest QB left in the playoffs is Matt Ryan drafted in 2008. Proof most players need development time in the NFL. Good luck #Bears.
— ✶ SM ✶ Chris (@SM_CBur) January 18, 2017
As my tweet indicates, the Dak Prescotts and Ben Roethlisbergers of the world are rare (rookie QBs that light the NFL on fire), most veterans at the position took a decent amount of time to develop. If the mediocre play of rookies Carson Wentz and Jared Goff this season wasn’t enough proof of that, take Aaron Rodgers as another example. In his first two seasons Rodgers put up QB ratings of 39.6 and 48.2. The Chicago Bears general manager is well aware of this…that’s why he sees the value in taking multiple swings when trying to hit a home run at the quarterback position.
“I think it’s a good idea to add a quarterback every year.” Pace said.
The part of Pace’s statement that should be pointed out, because it isn’t included in the quote, is it must be done in a cost effective way. There’s a reason the Bears are expected to be ranked in the top 10, maybe top 5, for cap space in 2017 and it’s because Pace is a wise spender. Therefore, adding a quarterback every year is great but one wrong contract could easily derail this thought process.
For example, if the Bears traded a second and third-round pick for Garoppolo then turned around and signed him to a $100 million contract in 2018, Pace’s options for adding quality QBs every year would become quite limited.
When trying to minimize risk and come up with a solution that will give Bears fans confidence moving forward, there seems to be one clear answer. Here’s a solution that could become incredibly realistic as the draft process plays out.
