What are the chances the Chicago Bears take a quarterback? Which quarterbacks are the best fits?
Everybody can clamor for their favorite player. The question is, will he actually be picked? This draft preview series will look specifically at each position from the Chicago Bears perspective, highlighting players that may fit their draft range and needs.
Will not be there
It doesn’t matter what you think about Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love if you are a Chicago Bears fan, they are all going to be taken in the top 23 according to an average of all NFL mock drafts.
Potential picks in the top 50
According to average mock drafts, the latest that Jacob Eason goes is 59, Jalen Hurts is 87, and Jake Fromm is 94. The Bears do not pick again until 163, so if they want to take one of these three quarterbacks, it would have to be then.
Of the three, Ryan Pace is most likely to be drawn to Jake Fromm. This reasoning comes from a couple of ideas. One was a look into how he evaluated quarterbacks in the draft leading to him taking Mitch Trubisky.
The article talked about Pace and his search for a Drew Brees type quarterback who could lead a program. He lacked interest in Deshaun Watson, who had charisma and leadership qualities, but was at a dominate program and had NFL talent around him. Pace liked that Brees and Trubisky took Purdue and North Carolina and impressed.
This is what mainly cancels Jalen Hurts out. Hurts transferred from Alabama to Oklahoma. Pace is likely to be turned off by being unseated at an elite program, and then dropping into a similar program with elite talent. Alabama and Oklahoma was as far or farther without Hurts in recent years. He likely will not be swayed by charisma and charm, similar to Watson.
Fromm went to Georgia, which is a powerhouse, but he won their first SEC Championship since 2005 as a true freshman. They went to their first national championship since the 80s. Fromm forced Jacob Eason and Justin Fields to transfer. He controls the game and the ball, something Brees did. He took Georgia to new heights, while Washington and Oklahoma regressed or plateaued last season.
Fromm also has similarities to Foles in how he can manage a game and plays on rhythm despite physical limitations. On the other hand, Jacob Eason would resemble Jameis Winston with his turnover issues under pressure. Hurts has the mobility and accuracy questions of Cam Newton. We know which style of quarterback they already took of those three options. Pace and Nagy do not want turnovers, and they do not want to change their offense. Fromm allows them to do that most of these three.
We know that Pace loves his Georgia players, and he could very well have had his eyes on Fromm since watching Javon Wims. Odds would say that he doesn’t take any of the three, but of the three, Fromm checks what Pace would want the most.
Fifth-round
Anthony Gordon, James Morgan, and Cole McDonald all go before the 190th pick in average mock drafts. If the Bears are going to take one of these three, the time would be then.
All three would compete with Tyler Bray and potentially beat him. The least likely is McDonald. McDonald plays a reckless style, comes from a school that pumps up offensive numbers, and would have to biggest development curve. For a fifth-round pick, he is risky. Morgan is a tough quarterback who stands tall in the pocket with arm strength and quick decisions. He played a more pro-style offense than Hawaii. The Bears have also been linked to Morgan, meeting him in the pre-draft process. Pace likely is interested in him getting the most out Florida International talent, and many scouts are praising his toughness, and playing through injury last year as well.
Gordon does well playing on schedule, we saw the success of Minshew last year, and he would beat out Tyler Bray as a rookie. Of the three, he is the best fit to play on pace and just right into the offense.
Sixth and Seventh rounds
Nathan Stanley, Brian Lewerke, Jake Luton, Steven Montez, and Shea Patterson are the quarterbacks who get taken in the sixth and seventh rounds. The rest would likely be UDFAs, so if I missed your favorite sleeper, blame the 7-round mocks that are published and do not include them.
Stanley, Lewerke, and Patterson did not complete 60% of their passes in college. That is a big red flag. Lewerke and Stanley do not have mobility either. Patterson doesn’t have size.
Luton and Montez completed over 60% of their passes. The Bears met with Montez via video chat before the draft. They could be in play for his wide receiver Laviska Shenault in the top 50 and could reunite them. Luton is another name to keep in mind on the third day.
5 names to follow: Jake Fromm, Anthony Gordon, James Morgan, Steven Montez, Jake Luton