Chicago Bears: If rumors are true, Ryan Pace must attempt to trade up

The Chicago Bears could go in so many directions with the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. The team is in desperate need of a franchise quarterback as we have not seen one in my lifetime. The closest the team has come was Jay Cutler who spent eight years with the team. Mitch Trubisky was supposed to be the “next” guy, and well, that did not work out as planned. Maybe the best quarterback from a fan’s perception has been Jim McMahon who recently bashed the Bears.

If you missed it, McMahon stated that the Green Bay Packers was the best organization he played for and stated quarterbacks die in Chicago. He’s not necessarily wrong about the quarterbacks dying, but as the one quarterback to be viewed as a better talent than he actually was, the same quarterback that was a third-stringer in Green Bay, it shocked me to hear him say those words.

The pain Chicago Bears fans have endured while watching their NFC North rivals from Wisconsin get back-to-back Hall of Fame quarterbacks is disheartening to say the least. This fan base and organization deserves a truly great quarterback — even if the owners and front office constantly mess things up. From a pure luck perspective, this team should have backed their way into a generational-type talent by now. Instead, we look back to Sid Luckman for a glimmer of QB pride.

The Chicago Bears must try to trade up for Justin Fields

Here’s the thing. The team might have an opportunity to take another swing at the position should the rumors swirling around actually be true in regards to the 49ers. Reports and rumors are that the team has narrowed down their selection with the third-overall pick to either Mac Jones or Trey Lance — meaning Justin Fields will be guaranteed to fall to at least the fourth-overall pick.

Now comes the hard part. How will Ryan Pace move up from the 20th-overall pick to even have a chance at drafting Justin Fields? It does not sound like the Falcons are willing to move down, but could potentially take a quarterback replacement for Matt Ryan in a couple of years. Personally, I think the team will take Kyle Pitts though as he is the second-best prospect in this draft behind Trevor Lawrence in my opinion.

The Bengals seem to be set at sticking to the fifth-overall pick in order to take either Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase or the top offensive tackle prospect Penei Sewell. This means the Chicago Bears and Ryan Pace must contact the Dolphins who are currently at sixth-overall or the Panthers who traded for Sam Darnold and will no longer be taking a quarterback early. The Lions are sitting at seventh-overall and I highly doubt they do anything to help the Bears out in the draft.

Ryan Pace understands this team needs an offensive lineman (multiple), a cornerback and playmakers on offense, but without a quarterback, none of that matters. I do think the Bears are ready to go into the season with Andy Dalton and Nick Foles as the only two options, but if Justin Fields is within striking distance, Pace must make a move.

Some might think trading up for Fields would be a mistake. They think it will be an overpay and not worth sending a future first-round pick or two. The thing is if Fields hits and becomes the best quarterback this team has seen in its existence, who cares about a couple of future first-round picks. This is a quarterback league now more than ever and if you do not have one then you will struggle to win consistently.