When it comes to the 1st round of the NFL draft, teams would prefer to be in one of two areas. One is the top 10. This gives them a prime opportunity to land a true difference-making talent. One who can possibly change the entire landscape of a roster. The other is somewhere between #21 to #32. Why? This usually means those teams made the playoffs the prior year. Anywhere between #11 and #20 is sort of a no-mans-land for teams that were too good to suck but not good enough to win. Sadly, that is where most see the Chicago Bears ending up.
Todd McShay is one of the top draft insiders in the business. With the recent news that several college football conferences are shutting down due to COVID-19, he felt compelled to do an updated mock draft that reflects this reality. Next year will mark the first time the Bears have had a 1st round pick since 2018. Where do they end up picking?
McShay has them locked in at #14. Not a favorable look at how their 2020 season will play out. However, he tried to provide a silver lining for fans with his choice of pick. Another stab at solving the great quarterback mystery.
“Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State*
Lance is big, athletic and tough, and he absolutely dominated the FCS last season. He threw zero interceptions on nearly 300 pass attempts in 2019 and offered dual-threat production, rushing for 50-plus yards in nine of his 16 games. The Bears need a guy they can build around, and they can’t afford to whiff this time.”
Trey Lance would certainly fit this Chicago Bears regime
Let’s see if we have this right. Athletic with a good arm? Check. Clean off-the-field reputation? Check. Known for not turning it over much? Check. Just one year as a starter? Check that too. It’s remarkable how many similarities Lance shares with Mitch Trubisky at this point. He threw just 287 passes last season. Yes, he was great in doing so, but it was his first year as a starter against suspect competition.
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Keep in mind Lance is unlikely to play in 2020 because of the pandemic. That means he’ll have a decision to make. Stay in school for 2021 or declare for the draft. There is no telling when this virus will finally be dealt with. So he may have to do what Trubisky did. Take advantage of his high stock and head to the NFL. If Ryan Pace is still the GM for the Bears, this feels like a pick he’d make all the way.
While Lance may be popular in scouting communities, one can imagine it would go over a bit differently with Chicago fans.