Chicago Bears: Round 1, Pick No. 26 via CLE
If the Bears are going to shoot the gun on a quarterback, they would be smart to try and trade down to then also acquire another pick. Once that’s done, I have the team selected Davis Mills out of Stanford.
Here’s what Louis Reddick had to say about Mills on Twitter.
QB Davis Mills of Stanford has some of the most intriguing tape to watch of any player in this draft. He is the off the radar developmental QB that should be on the radar. Classic pocket passer, adequate mobility, good arm strength, exceptional touch...could be an absolute steal.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) April 3, 2021
A reminder that Bears quarterback coach John DeFilippo was also at the Stanford pro day, where Mills looked confident and executed at a high level. The team has done their homework on Mills, who ran a pro-style offense while at Stanford.
Mills has a strong arm but certainly doesn’t fit the mold of a dual-threat quarterback. His ability to read defenses and look to all his options is something the Bears didn’t have in Mitch Trubisky. He wouldn’t necessarily be ready to start Day 1, but I believe he’s the best of the Day 2 quarterback selections. Dalton could be a great bridge quarterback to allow Mills time to learn and develop a bit.
We’ve taken a look at how Mills could be a sleeper in this draft before, and while his inexperience is a red flag, he’s an intelligent player who isn’t afraid to test defenses and anticipate what’s coming at him.