What is the Chicago Bears dream draft scenario for 2017? There will be varying opinions on that subject matter but the majority will agree on a singular point. That being if Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett somehow fell to them at the #3 overall pick. Think about it. The idea of pairing a once-in-a-generation talent in Garrett opposite Leonard Floyd. That is the sort of setup most defensive coordinators write on their Christmas lists every year.
It’s not every day that the best talent in a draft class falls outside the top two picks. Yet rumors are hinting at the possibility in a big way. Already there are prominent experts stating the Cleveland Browns might pass on Garrett in favor of getting their top quarterback of choice. Most believe that to be Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina.
Now Greg Gabriel, a former Bears scout and current draft expert for CBS Sports is hearing the San Francisco 49ers have heavy interest in Clemson standout Deshaun Watson.
This Bears dream draft scenario can’t be true….could it?
Now it’s important to remember that the draft is just five days away. This is the peak time of year where rumors fly and most of them aren’t true. This could easily be a ruse by the 49ers to drive up interest in trading for their #2 pick. At the same time there are reasons to believe some truth is connected to this.
For one sources close to the Browns continue to insist the team is very much considering Trubisky at #1 overall. Apparently many in the upper hierarchy don’t want to risk missing out on him. Not with the 49ers, Bears, and Jets all in the immediate vicinity to pounce. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com explained.
“Mitch Trubisky is still under serious consideration by the Browns at No. 1, league sources tell cleveland.com.
Despite that Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown gave strong vibes during his pre-draft press conference Wednesday that the Browns have zeroed in on Myles Garrett, they’re still strongly considering taking Trubisky there, sources say.”
That leaves San Francisco. Would they really consider taking Watson over Garrett? It sounds absurd to most draft fans, but one can understand their thinking. Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley are their two current QBs on the roster. Both of them contributed to the Bears going 3-13 last season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is an offensive mastermind. He builds his schemes around a talented quarterback just like he did in Atlanta.
With the depth of the 2017 class in serious question, it would make sense he’d want to get a top talent rather than wait until the second round. Odds are the best options will be long picked clean by then.
History proves it’s possible
There is also the unavoidable truth of history backing this up. Since 1970 there have been seven separate occasions where a quarterback went in the first two picks of the draft. Three of those instances have taken place in the past five years including 2012, 2015 and 2016. Of course people will say those pairs were more talented but is that true? Can anybody say with utmost honest that Robert Griffin III and Jared Goff were anymore worthy of going in the top two picks than Watson?
It’s important to remember that this idea that the 2017 QB class is bad was started and fanned by the media. Rumors persist that the same is not true for many executives and coaches among teams. They feel it’s an underrated group that just lacks some experience and polish. Not talent. That’s key.
Bottom line is everything hinges on what the Browns do at #1. If they indeed throw off everybody by taking Trubisky, it may just create the perfect storm to land an elite pass rusher in the laps of Ryan Pace and John Fox.
