Evaluating the Bears Options at QB

Brandon Olsen

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In 2017, the Chicago Bears traded up from third overall to second overall in order to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky out of North Carolina. Since then, the Bears have had their fair share of ups and downs but now find themselves in one of the most difficult positions you could be in as a competing team. They’ve got a top defense in the NFL, some weapons offensively, an improved special teams unit, but quarterback has been their biggest weakness to this point.

Fortunately for Chicago, I’m here to help talk them through some of their best options as a franchise. I’ve looked at countless scenarios and these are what I think might be the most reasonable choices for the future.

Stick with Mitch

I decided to start off with what might be the most unpopular option of them all. I’m guilty of being one of those people that has been unrelenting in my opinion of Mitchell Trubisky but this has to be a real option. I think it’s unfair to blame the offensive struggles strictly on Trubisky, given the injuries to the offensive line and the questionable play-calling/game planning to this point in the season. Just two and a half years ago, Trubisky was drafted #2 overall as a quarterback that was raw and inexperienced coming out of North Carolina. He was always going to be someone that needed to be coached and developed. Now, Trubisky hasn’t shown significant improvement but it’s possible that the Bears decide to continue this season with Trubisky at the helm, maybe add some competition in the offseason, and re-evaluate the position next year.

Trade for Cam Newton

This is one that I’ve seen floating around recently and although I think it’s unlikely, it deserves to be looked at. The Carolina Panthers haven’t lost a game since Cam Newton has been out and Kyle Allen was named starter. This is also probably one of the most realistic times we’ve seen a backup QB come in and possibly dethrone the incumbent franchise QB. Cam Newton would come at a hefty cost, likely in the form of draft capital that I’m not sure Ryan Pace would be willing to part ways with at this point. Another point to consider, Cam Newton has a very high cap number and the Bears would be even more strapped for cap than they previously were. Cam Newton is a high-risk, high-reward move for the Bears to consider. A tremendous talent, Cam has struggled to stay healthy in recent years and playing behind the Bears offensive line wouldn’t help him much. The idea of pairing Newton with Matt Nagy though is enticing.

Trade for Josh Rosen

Nobody has been dealt a worse hand to start a career than Josh Rosen has been over his first two years. Still unproven when looking at hit/bust, Rosen would be a risk in the same way that Trubisky is a risk: you’re banking on potential. Rosen’s price tag has never been lower after his recent benching in Miami and the Bears would have another cheap QB option to go with Trubisky if they acquired him. Pairing Josh Rosen, who’s got a reputation as a football savant, with Matt Nagy, who’s got a reputation as a creative offensive genius, could spell championship contender for years to come in Chicago.

Approach in Free Agency

The (realistic) free agent market at quarterback is underwhelming to say the least. The only option that the majority might still believe in is the one that beat the Bears this past Sunday in Teddy Bridgewater. Other options in free agency? Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tannehill, and Blake Bortles. Winston and Mariota are likely leaving their current teams and the two former top 2 picks may get signed by a desperate team but I don’t peg Chicago for being one of those teams, though it’s still possible. Ryan Tannehill is hoping for a career resurgence in Nashville but if he does manage to turn it around, I struggle to find a way the Titans let him leave. Blake Bortles is someone that the Bears would know exactly what they’re getting and we’ve seen him find success with a dominant defense before, but he’ll likely never be the one to win games for his team so the run game will have to find more success. Not to mention, Blake Bortles does already have a rapport with Allen Robinson II.

Early Draft Options

This is one that I’m not sure how aggressively Bears GM Ryan Pace would be willing to pursue. After trading up for Mitch Trubisky and possibly giving up on him, the front office might be tentative to pull the trigger to move up again. Moving up from what is looking like a mid-second round pick to the first round would likely cost this franchise a 2021 first round pick and then some. The mid-late first should guarantee the option of drafting guys like Jake Fromm, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, or Jacob Eason. We’ll get a little further into all of these prospects however, as it’s likely that some of them go in the first round but it’s possible that the one or two of them that get left out are available in the second round.

Jake Fromm

Of all of the quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft that the Bears might be available to take, Jake Fromm is the safest of the picks. Trubisky was drafted based on his upside and normally when it comes to quarterback, the thought is to draft for upside. Fromm has the lowest ceiling out of all of these prospects but arguably the highest floor. With the playstyle of a game manager and the intangibles of a champion, he could be exactly what the Bears would need to win a Super Bowl, the Trent Dilfer/Ravens way. Ideally, Fromm ends up with an Alex Smith-like career while Smith was with the Chiefs.

Jordan Love

This is easily my least favorite of the quarterback prospects but it’s one that’s a hot name right now and should be addressed. Jordan Love out of Utah State is as low-floor/high-ceiling as it gets. He flashes his potential and just wows the entire crowd but then he’ll make you question why he’s even on the field. The best comparison I’d be able to give you for his style of play is Josh Allen, although others might say Jameis Winston. If you’re okay with a player who’s going to dazzle you but also dumbfound you, then Love is a great option. Love also raises the question about the level of competition he’s played against while at Utah State.

Jalen Hurts

The improvements that Jalen Hurts have made from last year to this year are astounding. This is a guy that just last year at Alabama was asked to move to running back and played some receiver. Now, he’s arguably the most productive quarterback in college football. The biggest question here is: can he do this without Lincoln Riley calling the plays? That would be a risk that the Bears would be willing to take to fix their quarterback issues.

Jacob Eason

Jacob Eason is someone that I realistically think could be there in the second-round when the Bears are picking. Eason has all of the arm talent in the world but hasn’t looked particularly impressive so far this season (outside of this past week against Oregon) and that’s hurt him a bit in my eyes. Eason also hasn’t played a ton of college football as he got hurt at Georgia then transferred to Washington and this is his first full season as a starter.

Mid-Late Draft Options

Don’t do it. Sure, it’s fun to look at the possibility of building a stacked roster then drafting guys like Mason Fine, Nathan Stanley, Shea Patterson, Kellen Mond, or Brian Lewerke. Those guys are mid-late round picks for a reason though. There’s the possibility that they develop and help the team win games and maybe rings, but that’s not at all the likely outcome of their careers.