The Chicago Bears seem set on one of two avenues at quarterback this off-season. Either they keep Justin Fields for another year, or they take somebody #1 overall. As things stand, most in the NFL community believe GM Ryan Poles will trade Fields and take his preferred guy in the draft. Right now, the overwhelming favorite is Caleb Williams. That seems like the safe bet. However, it would be interesting if Poles were to consider another tactic. Everybody knows the Bears have had trouble identifying good quarterbacks for ages.
Maybe it’s time to stop putting their eggs in one basket and hedge their bets. One thing teams have done from time to time is couple a highly-drafted quarterback with a second one picked in the later rounds. It doesn’t happen often, but there have been multiple instances over the years. Most of the time, the QB picked higher is the better choice as expected. However, there are examples of the later pick panning out better. Here are some notable examples.
- 2012: Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins
- 2000: Giovanni Carmazzi and Tim Rattay
- 1994: Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte
- 1983: Art Schlichter and Mike Pagel
- 1978: Guy Benjamin and Bill Kenney
- 1977: Glenn Carano and Steve DeBerg
- 1971: Dan Pastorini and Lynn Dickey
This 2024 class is a good one for Ryan Poles to consider the idea.
Most drafts don’t have great depth at the quarterback position. This year feels different. Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels dominate the top, while Bo Nix, J.J. McCarthy, and Michael Penix will likely go on Day 2. Not enough people are talking about the array of promising names who could be available in the 4th or 5th rounds. Spencer Rattler, Jordan Travis, Joe Milton, and Michael Pratt are all QBs who have understated talent and strong college track records. It isn’t a stretch to think at least one of them could end up a surprise breakout name in the NFL.
Ryan Poles isn’t dumb. He understands how vital the quarterback position is to his long-term success in Chicago. He’s done tons of homework on this class. There is a strong chance that whoever he picks will end up being good, if not great. Still, there is no crime in adding some insurance along the way. It has worked before. It can work again. Competition is good for every position, including quarterbacks. Good ones rise above it. Bad ones don’t. This is one idea worth keeping in mind.
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