Chicago Bears: 5 late-round quarterback targets in 2021 NFL Draft

With the Chicago Bears reportedly rolling with Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback for the 2021 season, they need to target a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft. Clearly, Dalton is not the long-term plan at quarterback as he was essentially signed to a one-year contract with the Bears and he is aging.

Andy Dalton though is a great bridge quarterback. The three-time Pro Bowler could serve as a great mentor for a young quarterback and could help develop him. In addition, if Nick Foles is still on the roster, two veterans who have shown success in the NFL could bode well for a young quarterback in need of development.

The only issue is, the Bears likely won’t be in reach for a top-five quarterback. According to most reports, the top quarterback that will likely be on the board at 20th overall is Kyle Trask. Granted, the Bears can trade up, but that would cost plenty of picks for a lot of risks.

The smart move for the Bears is they could trade back to acquire more draft picks then take whichever offensive tackle falls into their laps whether that is Teven Jenkins or Alijah Vera-Tucker. Regardless, they should draft a quarterback after Day One though.

Chicago Bears Target: Kellen Mond | Texas A&M

Kellen Mond has become a favorite among draft analysts as a great late-round target in the NFL Draft. Chris Simms went as far as to say that Mond is a better prospect than both Justin Fields and Trey Lance. He is very high on Mond and so are many others. His showing at the Senior Bowl solidified that.

Strengths:

Mond has every physical trait you want in an NFL quarterback. He possesses an incredible arm and athleticism to pair with it. He has a strong arm and it shows when he throws on the run as well. He patiently sits in the pocket and doesn’t get happy feet. Mond can gain extra yardage by scrambling out of the pocket if necessary. Accuracy improved every single season and has three full years of starting experience.

Weaknesses:

Although his accuracy improved, he is still inaccurate at times. This is mainly due to his mechanics which will need some work in the NFL. His ball placement becomes sporadic as well due to this. Stares down his first read a lot and has questionable decision-making. Inconsistent at times when he can look elite sometimes and a first-year starter at other times.

Chicago Bears’ fit:

Mond would be a great fit in Chicago due to the fact he needs to sit and work on his mechanics and fine-tune his game as well. If Mond can correct some of these issues, he has the upside to be a great quarterback at the next level. Bears may need to move into the fourth round to select him or they can select him in the third.