NEWSLETTER
The 2022 NFL Draft is fast approaching. And even though new GM Ryan Poles doesn’t have a first-round pick, he is set to usher in a new era of Bears football with Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and a host of other newbies. Starting today, we’re looking at some of the best prospects at various positions leading up to the Draft in search of fits for the Bears’ needs.
Previous: None
Need: I’m not saying the Bears have The Answer at QB, but let’s give Justin Fields an opportunity without Matt Nagy and Andy Dalton serving as anchors holding him down before we make a final judgment.
Currently on the Roster (2021 PFF Grade):
Justin Fields (64.2), Trevor Siemian (64.4), Nick Foles (60.2), Ryan Willis (N/A)
BN’s Composite Ranking
Ranking prospects is difficult, in part, because no one publication has the same set of fundamentals or preferences. In an attempt to work through that noise, we’re using a composite ranking based on opinions from PFF, ESPN, CBS Sports, and NFL dot com, and adapting them to a points scale. The best of the top-10 prospects gets 10 points, the 10th ranked prospect gets 1, and prospects outside the top-10 get 0. From there, the prospects are ranked by total points.
Here’s how the quarterbacks stack up (points in parenthesis):
1. Malik Willis, Liberty (39)
2. Kenny Pickett, Pitt (33)
3. Matt Corral, Ole Miss (31)
4. Sam Howell, North Carolina (29)
5. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (28)
6. Carson Strong, Nevada (19)
7. Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky (13)
8. Jack Coan, Notre Dame (10)
9. Skylar Thompson, Kansas State (7)
10. D’Eriq King, Miami (3)
Best of the rest: Dustin Crum (Kent State), E.J. Perry (Brown), Kaleb Eleby (Western Michigan), Cole Kelley (SE Louisiana)
Team Fit
The rostering four quarterbacks on April 19 is a bit unorthodox, but the roles are pretty clear cut. Fields starts, Siemian serves as his backup, Foles is trade bait, and Willis is the guy slinging it in the fourth quarter of the preseason finale. That might be a convoluted way of saying quarterback isn’t a priority in this draft, but it is what it is. And it is what it isn’t.
However, I’ll say this much: I wouldn’t be against the Bears using the UDFA market after the dust settles on the draft to pluck someone who can be developmental shot in the dark. Don’t get it twisted. It still needs to be all hands on deck with Fields. But it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to kick the tires on a prospect with some fun tools.
Most Likely to be Available When the Bears Are on the Clock:
I struggle to see the Bears using a draft pick on a quarterback. However, this could be an area where a quarterback being available when it’s Chicago’s turn to make a draft choice could be beneficial. The Bears could leverage another team’s desire to move up in the draft to snag a quarterback in order to create a trade that nets GM Ryan Poles some much-needed draft capital. Just something to watch on draft weekend.
Bears Connections…
• Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky (Senior Bowl meeting)
Zack Pearson of Bear Report does a tremendous job compiling Bears prospect visits. You can follow his work here.
If I Had to Pick One:
This crop of quarterbacks was as disappointing as draftniks were projecting it would be around this time last year. Hence, the importance of snagging a signal caller in last year’s class. But if I had to hitch my wagon to a quarterback prospect from this year’s group, I’d roll with Malik Willis. The Liberty product has the loudest tools and the biggest upside. If you’re going to roll the dice on a quarterback, Willis has the potential to deliver a big payout.
"Malik Willis is a magician!"
The Liberty University QB has some of the best upside in this year's draft 🏈 pic.twitter.com/caWhFtD3gj
— ESPN (@espn) April 18, 2022
