Chicago Bears 2017 NFL Draft Redo: Trade Down Edition

Round 5 | Pick 147 | Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh

First and foremost, Jon Gruden is a Peterman fan.

Chicago Bears’ fans have seen several years of gunslinger mentality.  It’s pretty when it works, frustrating when it doesn’t.  It’s about time to find a different QB.  Rather than a stellar arm and questionable extras, a QB who has a sufficient arm yet consistently makes great decisions is preferred.  That’s Peterman in spades.

Works all the way through his progressions.

Peterman throws his receivers open.  Passes come as players come out of breaks.  He looks for windows to throw into, rather than players to throw to.  Reading his positives is a lot like someone attempting to describe Tom Brady.  The comparison is certainly lofty and unfair, but Peterman appears to have some great intangibles.  Just ask Clemson.

Peterman actually may have an advantage over most of his collegiate counterparts, as he has been working in a pro-style system at Pittsburgh.  Transitioning to NFL offenses will likely be easier.

Accuracy is virtually never an issue.  When he misses, it’s generally where only the receiver could possibly reach.  Not only was he able to throw three straight pin-point passes in front of Gruden, he’s also got one of those trick-shot videos online.  Say what you want about those videos, but it would likely take the average person weeks to compile the videos Peterman got in undoubtedly minimal takes.

Peterman is the type of QB the Bears need.  He’d work behind Glennon for a year, and by then the Bears would be able to evaluate the starter potential.  At that point the team would know what they have in Glennon and Peterman.  If none work out, 2018 is supposed to be one of the best QB draft classes in a while.  That makes more sense than spending nearly $20M on a contract and then trading up to draft a QB at #2.