All things considered, the Chicago Bears should continue to bring quarterbacks through Halas Hall until they find one they really like.
After spending last season as a backup QB for the Cowboys … Mark Sanchez will visit the Bears on Thursday, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 22, 2017
General manager Ryan Pace already locked up Mike Glennon on a three-year deal, and re-signed Connor Shaw with an eye on him competing for a reserve role, so why not add Sanchez to the mix? He spent the 2016 season as a backup on the Dallas Cowboys and hasn’t completed a full season since 2011 and hasn’t come close since starting 15 games and going 6-9 in 2012 — his final season with the New York Jets.
Sanchez wasn’t terrible in his first three seasons, playing well enough to lead the Jets to the AFC Championship game in his first two years. Sanchez’s record as a starter through his first three seasons was 27-20. He posted a 73.2 passer rating with 55 touchdowns and 51 interceptions.
But let the record show Sanchez played his best during the postseason.
Sanchez made six playoff starts in two years and the numbers (93.4 passer rating, 9 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 60.5 completion percentage) were quite good. Credit Sanchez for improving upon his regular season numbers (70.2 rating, 29 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, 54.4 completion percentage) in those seasons.
At this stage of his career, Sanchez isn’t anything more than a back-up, back-up signing. It’s not the kind of move that would push the Bears away from drafting a quarterback in the first round. Further, the Bears’ interest in Sanchez is more likely a sign the team might not looooove any of its quarterback options. If anything, bringing on Sanchez (or another free agent quarterback) would probably create a competition between Sanchez and Shaw. In this scenario, the Bears could still draft a developmental quarterback in April.
And in any case, keep an eye on the Bears’ back-up quarterback situation because it’s evident it is still in flux.