NEWSLETTER
Mitch Trubisky is the only quarterback Ryan Pace has drafted since taking over as the Chicago Bears’ GM in 2015. And if Pace listens to the advice of a pair of renowned NFL Draft experts, Trubisky might remain the only QB Pace has ever selected.
Jason Lieser (Chicago Sun-Times) catches up with long-time NFL Draft insider Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network draft guru (and former scout) Daniel Jeremiah, who offered words of caution for a team like the Bears looking to draft a quarterback in the upcoming draft: “I would not use one of those two [second-round picks] on a quarterback,” Jeremiah said. “Use those two picks to try to help your football team right now. I just don’t like the options they’re going to have right there at that point.”
Kiper, who has been ESPN’s go to draft dude since 1984, concurred: “I mean, who do you like in the second round? Kiper asked before going on to weigh the merits of drafting Jacob Eason (has a big-time arm, but had late-game struggles), Jake Fromm (arm strength is a question), and Jalen Hurd (a “wild card” option in Kiper’s opinion).
The Bears don’t have a first-round pick, which takes them out of the conversation to snag a premier prospect such as Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa, and also puts them out of the running for a guy with upside like Justin Herbert or Jordan Love. That leaves pick No. 43 as the team’s first opportunity to draft a quarterback for the future. But if the Bears enter this draft operating in a win-now window, perhaps kicking the can down the road and instead adding offensive firepower is the way to go after bulking up on defense with the signing of pass-rusher Robert Quinn in free agency.
To be clear, the Bears could still pick a quarterback later in the draft. In fact, that might be the desired route for the franchise. If that’s the move, then any number of prospects could be in play. Kiper recommended Florida International University’s James Morgan, a prospect we dove into recently and has has previous connections to the Bears. Jeremiah offered up Oregon State’s Jake Luton, who landed on PFF’s top-10 QB prospects list. Cole McDonald (Hawaii) and Steven Montez (Colorado) were also mentioned.
Considering that Mitch Trubisky is on the final year of his rookie deal and Nick Foles could opt out of his re-worked deal at any time in the near future, the Bears would be wise to find a quarterback who could stick on the roster throughout the duration of his four-year rookie contract. But all things considered, maybe that prospect isn’t someone who should be taken with either of the team’s two second-round picks.
