NEWSLETTER
It feels like a quarterback change is on the horizon in Chicago. Maybe it doesn’t happen before next week’s trade deadline passes, but Mitch Trubisky’s struggles have more or less forced us to discuss the long-term future of the position more than we expected to coming into the season. A lot more, unfortunatly.
Thankfully, Bleacher Report NFL Draft expert Matt Miller has a perfect fit QB who should be available whenever the Bears go on the clock in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts might not be a traditional quarterback prospect, but that’s OK (it’s not like traditional searches have gone all that well for the Bears in recent memory anyway).
Miller calls Hurts “an electric dual-threat” quarterback, a “fiery leader,” and most importantly, dubs him as the “the anti-Trubisky.” Which, alright, I’m on board with all of that after seeing Trubisky’s first five starts of the 2019 season.
In addition to dual-threat skills and leadership abilities, Hurts has long been able to use his athleticism and football intelligence to win games at both Alabama and now at Oklahoma. Hurts’ intangibles should be viewed as a strength as he transitions to the next level.
After all, any quarterback who was good enough to start as a true freshman for Nick Saban at Alabama and is mature enough to take a backseat to another true freshman in order to win a championship before transferring and picking up Lincoln Riley’s offense without a hiccup *and* growing into a top Heisman candidate is nothing to sneeze at.
Miller opines that if Hurts’ passing mechanics and decision-making improve during his stay at Oklahoma, it’s possible the Bears would have to package both of their second-round picks in order to draft him. After all, we saw what Riley did for Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. And while that might feel like a big ask, no one is questioning decisions made by the Ravens (Lamar Jackson), Texans (Deshaun Watson), or Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes) to trade up for a quarterback (… just the Bears (Trubisky)).
Then again, it might not take that much to make it happen. Pro Football Focus’ most recent mock draft projects four quarterbacks to go in the first round, none of whom are Jalen Hurts.
Even though short-term possibilities such as Cam Newton or Nick Foles are fun to talk about, acquiring either would still lead us to question what the big picture looks like for the Bears. But despite having 10 games to go in this season and six months until draft weekend, there is nothing wrong with getting a head start on what could turn out to be an obsessive quarterback watch that rivals what we experienced with the kicker position (albeit at a far more important spot on the field).
