NEWSLETTER
It’s easy to dream on Mitch Trubisky taking that big second-year leap after the Chicago Bears’ front office dedicated its offseason to supplying their quarterback with young playmakers with talent and remaing upside. And the dreams will be that much better after hearing what one of those playmakers had to say about his new quarterback:
#Bears TE @TreyBurton8 on @gmfb on QB Mitchell Trubisky: "He's special. He's right in the category with Carson (Wentz). I'm really impressed with him so far."
— Will Selva (@WillSelvaTV) May 17, 2018
Hello.
If anyone is in a position to favorably compare Trubisky to Carson Wentz, it’s Trey Burton – a member of the 2017 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Burton didn’t just have a front row seat to experience Wentz’s excellence, but was also there for the quarterback’s rookie season in which he threw 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Even though Burton was a reserve tight end in Philadelphia, he had a first-hand look at what Wentz did behind the scenes, on the practice field, in the locker room, and on game day to make significant improvements in his game from Year 1 to Year 2. Like Wentz before him, Trubisky has a lot of ground to make up in order to reach the potential that happens to be attached to his lofty draft status.
It’s also worth noting that Burton also has the experience of knowing what an Andy Reid disciple can do to help get the most out of his quarterback. So while we can discuss the Bears putting their eggs in Trubisky’s basket after watching the team surround the quarterback with a fresh infusion of talented ballplayers, they’re also banking on Matt Nagy following in the footsteps of Doug Pederson on the coaching side. No pressure, guys.
After signing a lucrative deal in free agency to join Chicago, Burton is expected to play a major role in the Bears offense. Recent projections have Burton being the team’s top pass-catching tight end with 51 receptions, 558 yards, and four touchdowns. Meaning he will have a direct hand in Trubisky living up to the lofty expectations that are being set before him. Because, let’s face it, Wentz’s MVP-caliber 33-7 TD-INT ratio in 13 games is quite a high bar to set for Trubisky.
Then again, having high expectations (and optimism to match) is actually a good thing. Bring it on!
