The Chicago Bears draft rumor mill is spinning hotter than ever these days. Not a surprise considering the big day is just shy of two weeks away. It will mark the third draft of the Ryan Pace era, one that feature the highest pick Chicago has held since 1972. No doubt the biggest opportunity this franchise may get to land a potential superstar for their young, developing roster.
For the longest time there was widespread belief that the team might actually consider taking a quarterback at that spot. This despite warning from several analysts that the 2017 class is too raw and inexperienced to warrant that kind of investment. Over time the general consensus is that Chicago will likely take the best available defensive player on the board.
Will it be Jonathan Allen, or Jamal Adams, or Marshon Lattimore? The names keep shifting but have stayed on that side of the ball for the past couple weeks in most mock draft. Save for the one by Dane Brugler. The draft expert for CBS Sports remains a big believer in the idea the Bears will take their QB early, and not because it’s a hunch.
The Bears draft rumor that won’t die
Indeed the connection between the Bears and Mitch Trubisky is something that goes back a few months. Walter Football indicated Chicago “loved” him. Constant whispers out of the draft community are he is head and shoulders above the other quarterbacks in this class. That is certainly reflected in many rankings. His 6.5 rating on NFL.com is .6 points higher than the next closest on the list (Deshaun Watson 5.9).
That’s a pretty significant gap. Why? In spite of the obvious concerns with his lack of experience (started just 13 games at UNC) he displayed the most characteristics of a pro-ready quarterback during that time. Most notably with his presence within the pocket, footwork and ability to work through his progressions. The arm is solid, his accuracy and ball placement are reliable and he’s got decent size and good mobility.
So why would the Bears be compelled to take him at #3 overall despite the warning that it would be a big reach? Competition.
QB needy teams are plentiful
Even though the quarterback class of 2017 may be perceived as unprepared, their talent is not in question. Given the importance of the position, the odds are teams will still willingly take the risk in the hopes they can develop the young passers for the pro level. It’s been done before. Besides, the Bears face the added problem of knowing several teams that need a quarterback will be picking after them in the first round.
Those teams include the Jets, Bills, Saints, Cardinals, Giants, Texans, Chiefs and Steelers. All either have glaring needs at the position or soon will due to age concerns with their current starters. This doesn’t even include the Browns and 49ers who pick ahead of the Bears early in the second round. Thus GM Ryan Pace is backed into a corner.
He either takes his preferred quarterback earlier than he probably should be taken, or he waits until the second round. By which point a limited field of options could be picked clean. Not the easiest decision to make by any stretch. Pace has stuck by his Best Player Available moniker since he took over two years. So the question becomes how highly does he regard Trubisky?
Impossible to know for sure. The Bears were barely represented at his pro day a few weeks ago. Then again they quietly conducted a private workout with him. So it’s anybody’s guess. Still, the fact remains that he is very much in play at the #3 pick.
