One must be careful with dream scenarios. They have the word “dream” in it and therefor can get a little outlandish. Obviously the end all dream scenario for the 2017 Chicago Bears is for Mike Glennon to lead them to the Super Bowl. Easy right? Of course it’s easy but also unrealistic. A better question to ask is what would entail a more believable dream sequence for this season?
To answer that it’s first about understanding the situation. GM Ryan Pace signed veteran former backup Mike Glennon to a three-year contract worth $18.5 million in guaranteed money. Most of that guarantee is during the first year. In essence it’s a deal that says Glennon is the starter for 2017. Beyond that is up to him.
That’s why Pace also traded up to draft North Carolina standout Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick. All his bases are covered. Glennon is the veteran and gets the first crack. If that doesn’t work then Trubisky is waiting in the wings. Look at this setup from the big picture though? Here is how things would play out in a sun shiny world.
2017 Chicago Bears need Mike Glennon to play really well…..for 8 games
What does this mean? Okay here’s a breakdown. What the Bears want out of Glennon is half a season of solid starts. Not necessarily superstar numbers. Maybe somewhere in the vicinity of 2,000 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions through eight games. Then they want him to go down with a freak injury. Yes this sounds cold and heartless but that’s the NFL business and this is a fictional scenario. Just go with it.
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In essence it’s a win-win for the Bears. Glennon provided the rest of the NFL with an extended two-month preview of what he can do with decent pieces around him. At the same time he’ll have allowed the team to keep Trubisky squarely on the bench where he can continue learning. Then he can get the next vital key to his future success which is game experience.
Trubisky comes in for softer second half of the schedule
A lot of people might not like that idea but it makes plenty of sense. First is the fact that Trubisky would have two weeks including the bye to get extra practice reps. The Bears come out of that with two-straight games at Soldier Field. If they were going to debut him anywhere, they’d want it to be at home where he doesn’t have to deal with the hostile crowds just yet.
Last but not least is the fact that, on paper, the second half of their schedule is lighter. Six of their first eight games are against teams that were .500 or better in 2016. That includes the Falcons, Steelers and Packers who were in conference championship games. Not so much in November and December.
Seven of the eight games over that stretch will either be against teams that had losing records (PHI, CIN, CLE) or against teams the Bears beat last year (DET, SF, MIN). One should suspect they could squeeze a couple victories out of that stretch. Give Trubisky some confidence going into next season.
Pace uses productive first half to trade Glennon for a 3rd rounder in 2018
Coming back to Glennon, this is where Pace takes advantage of his first half performance. Despite the injury setback he will be 28-years old at the start of next offseason. Teams will have seen him perform well and it’s almost a guarantee one of them would be willing to take advantage of that cheap contract that won’t have any guaranteed money left to owe.
Best part is they should be able to get him for relatively cheap at a third round pick. Why that? It’s not overly expensive to scare people off. There is a reasonable limit to valuing a QB like that. He’s still young but is also coming off an injury. For the Bears it’s perfect because making that deal pretty much gets back the last of what they gave up in the trade for Trubisky.
Thus the Bears go into the 2018 draft with five picks in the first four round and gain another $16 million in cap space by shipping out Glennon. They can then put those assets to good use. Some to start building around Trubisky and to continue beefing up the defense. If things progress as expected Chicago should be in business for that season with a young, deep and talented roster.
The odds of it actually playing out like this are remote. Still, crazier things by far have happened with this team in the past. All things being equal, this is as good a way as any for it to go.