NEWSLETTER
While there is an understandable focus on the quarterbacks who will suit up and play under the lights at Soldier Field, you’ll have to excuse me for having eyes on the future.
Because even if Mitch Trubisky sits atop the Bears’ quarterback depth chart to start 2020, his long-term future is far from settled. And with Chicago being eliminated from postseason contention, you can understand why I would start to shift my thoughts from the Super Bowl to the Senior Bowl. Speaking of which, the annual Senior Bowl rosters are starting to take shape. Over at the game’s official web site, you can check out the players who have already accepted invites to participate in college football’s top all-star pre-draft showcase. In due time, we will dive into which players should interest the Bears the most when draft weekend comes around. But for now, I would like to take a moment to highlight the quarterbacks.
Shea Patterson (Michigan), Steven Montez (Colorado), Anthony Gordon (Washington State), and Jordan Love (Utah State) have already committed to playing in the Senior Bowl. This collection of talent isn’t the sexiest, but the week of practice and the game that ends the week could provide ample opportunities for someone to boos their draft stock. For example, Nick Shook of NFL.com points out how it wasn’t that long ago when Wyoming’s Josh Allen had a productive week in Mobile, Ala., then saw his draft stock take off afterward. Perhaps Love (who has first-round raw talent, but is a bit rough around the edges) or Gordon (who played in a complex, but pass-happy offense) could catch someone’s eye at some point in Alabama.
Perhaps others could be on the way to bolster the quarterbacks room.
Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy says officials have extended invitations to Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow (LSU), Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma), and projected first-round pick Justin Herbert (Oregon). Burrow and Hurts have College Football Playoff games to prepare for, while Herbert is gearing up for the Rose Bowl. All things considered, it might be a while before any of those players make a decision on whether or not to commit to the Senior Bowl.
But still … let’s keep an eye on these post-season college football showcases. Because the Bears don’t have a first-round pick, dreaming on the likes of Herbert or Burrow is nothing more than a pipe dream. However, that doesn’t mean someone else can’t emerge as a possible developmental project who could bring competition to Chicago as soon as this upcoming summer.
