Brad Biggs at The Chicago Tribune answers your questions:
While I am maybe the 10,000th person to note this, none of the current top-five quarterbacks in the NFL (Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson — pick any order) was a top-five pick. Corresponding, almost every top-five QB pick this decade has been a disappointment. Why does every pundit every year say you must trade into the top five to get a franchise QB? Data shows this is completely false. Would the Bears be better off drafting a QB at No. 20, moving up or down slightly if needed, then packaging 2021 second- and third-round picks (and a 2022 Day 2 pick if needed) for a late first/early second pick and take a second QB? Data says that franchise QBs can be had, but you need a lot of at-bats. Thoughts? — Marc B., Avondale
I agree with you that teams often need a lot of swings at a quarterback to get an extra-base hit, and if the Bears are guilty of anything over the last several decades, it’s the failure to take enough cracks at the position. Your point is that quarterbacks can be overdrafted, and that’s definitely a fact. Here’s the issue I have with your scenario: If the Bears wait until No. 20 to draft a quarterback, or consider only a slight trade up to get one, the chances of selecting a passer who can come in and start as a rookie are minimal. What you see in the second half of Round 1 is that many times quarterbacks are overdrafted. Sure, you can point to Rodgers and Jackson and find others who were selected later in the first round, but they are the exceptions. Count up all of the quarterbacks taken in the back half of Round 1 and in Round 2 who have been failures. It’s a long list. Considering the other needs the Bears have, I don’t believe they can draft two quarterbacks this year, but it isn’t a bad idea in some years if you see multiple prospects you like..
Marc probably isn’t the “10.000th” person to note this but I did say something similar just the other day.
As I sad then, it isn’t just a question of taking a quarterback. Its a question of being smart about it and taking the right guy, no matter where he’s drafted.
I really doubt that the Bears are going to be able to draft a quarterback who is gong to be starting this season. I think we’re probably looking at a scenario where a veteran bridge quarterback starts.
But I will say this. If you ask who the Bears are developing to start in the future in May and the answer isn’t obvious, it will be a fireable offense for every decision maker involved.
I don’t throw terms around like “fireable” lightly, even just as a blogger. And I’m very serious about it here.
I don’t care where they do it. But they’d better draft somebody. It’s been a franchise-level failure that they haven’t drafted more players at the position to this point. If they don’t do it this year, is malpractice pure and simple.