The main reasoning behind selecting Allen is the lack of depth at the defensive tackle position for Chicago in it’s 3-4. Jonathan Bullard, last year’s third-round pick, was supposed to help address it but he ended up getting benched for performance issues. The Bears finished with the 27th best run defense last year, it’s clear there’s still a need at the position.
The selection of Allen would give Chicago, arguably, the best young defensive front in the league with a healthy Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks. When you surround those players with quality edge rushers in Pernell McPhee and Leonard Floyd, then add-in Pro Bowl caliber linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, there’s a ton of potential for this defense to be dominant. That’s why most think Allen could be the guy.
That leaves Chicago with a lower-round quarterback and or a free agent. Ryan Pace could select a player like Patrick Mahomes in the second-round and start this season with Brian Hoyer at the helm. It would makes sense when you factor in his past selections, Pace hasn’t taken a quarterback in two drafts so far with the Bears.
Or… he could package up the second-round pick for a player like Jimmy Garoppolo and let him compete with Hoyer for next season’s starting role. Additional players like Mike Glennon and Tyrod Taylor could be possibilities as well.
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The exact plan for next season continues to remain a mystery, but nobody with any kind of credibility is currently expecting Chicago to draft a quarterback in the first round in April…. at least not at third overall. (making trading back into the first possible too)
