Most of the predictions are coming in now centered around the biggest buzz question. Is a Bears first round quarterback in the cards for 2017? It would mark the first time in 14 years that would happen. A number that’s hard to fathom. That means it took place in an era where Brett Favre was still quarterback in Green Bay and the big three of Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger weren’t even pros yet.
Some believe sleeping on the Bears is unwise in this situation, but most still think it’s not happening. John Clayton of ESPN is one of them. He did a rundown of the teams he feels most likely to take a quarterback in the 2017 draft. Then he ranked them by how high he expects them to strike. The Bears wound up fourth on the list. Not surprising, but that means they won’t draft a QB until the second or even third rounds. Clayton explained why.
Why no Bears first round quarterback
“Glennon signed a three-year, $45 million deal, but the Bears could get out of the contract after one year. Chicago can look at taking a QB to develop behind him. The Bears let Hoyer and Matt Barkley go to San Francisco in free agency and cut Jay Cutler while bringing in Mark Sanchez as the backup.
Coach John Fox knows he needs to rebuild the quarterback position, and the draft can give him one option. The Bears have the No. 3 overall pick and high picks in each round. Don’t expect a QB in the first round, but they could take one in the second, especially if the top-tier signal-callers fall out of the first round.”
Note that Clayton does not say GM Ryan Pace but instead John Fox knows. That’s interesting. After all Pace is the one calling the shots on this roster but there appears to be a perception that Fox is determining philosophy focus. In other words the consideration of taking a quarterback in the first down may hinge on whether he buys into it.
If that’s the case, then it’s fair to say Clayton is right. Chicago won’t do it.
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Fox is gun shy
Why? Fox’s history as a head coach. This is a man who has held the job with three different franchises dating back 15. Across that entire span which included 11 first round picks, not a single quarterback was selected. On the flip side, they did draft one in the second round twice with Jimmy Clausen in 2010 and Brock Osweiler in 2012. Not exactly a duo that inspires confidence.
It proves that Fox has a really hard time evaluating or developing college quarterbacks with any success. His two most successful runs came with veteran free agents Jake Delhomme and Peyton Manning under center. If this is the case then why waste a top draft choice at the position, right? Take a flier on Day 2 hoping somebody really good ended up falling.
Maybe not the rosiest outlook for the Bears going into 2017, but one that is easy to see happening given their history. They have selected one QB in the top 10 total in the entirety of the Super Bowl era. It’s just not something they do. Pace seems like the only man standing in the way of that trend.
Tough to see him breaking it.
