Chicago Bears: 5 free agents Ryan Pace missed on in 2020
By Joseph Herff
Marcus Mariota, Quarterback
A lot of people wouldn’t say the Bears missed on Marcus Mariota as he looks to be a first-round bust. Mariota though could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, much like the current Bears first-round pick quarterback.
Unfortunately, Mariota saw his job get taken and watched Ryan Tannehill light up the NFL, but that isn’t entirely his fault. The system he was in was not the system he should be in, and it is perfect for Tannehill.
Mariota is a great run-pass-option and spread offense quarterback which is what the Bears seem to be running as they rarely used their tight ends last season and love to run the RPO. Mariota is a master of it.
The Bears brought in a great RPO offensive coordinator in Bill Lazor and Mariota would be putting himself into a scenario much like what happened to him last season. He’d sit behind Mitchell Trubisky waiting for him to slip up then would jump in and take over as Tannehill did last season.
Foles was a fine option to be this as well, but Mariota is much younger and more athletic for this Bears offense. This would have just been a better option further down the line.