GM Ryan Pace has conducted Chicago Bears business differently from past men in his position. Nothing proves that more than his investments at the quarterback position. After two years of working on the roster while sticking with Jay Cutler, he went all-out in 2017 by signing Mike Glennon in free agency and then drafting Mitch Trubisky second overall.
Glennon didn’t work out. Trubisky made progress as a starter. Everything points to him being the guy at least for the next couple seasons. Glennon will likely be cut given his lofty contract. On top of that, Mark Sanchez is also a pending free agent. This means Trubisky is the only quarterback the Bears could have on the roster at the end of March.
One would assume Pace goes after a potential cheap veteran target for depth. A similar strategy that yielded maximum results for Minnesota (Case Keenum) and Philadelphia (Nick Foles). There’s a prevailing belief that may not be the extent of it though. In fact, predictions are growing the Bears may have plans for the position in April.
Chicago Bears business could involve drafting another QB
ESPN columnist Jeff Dickerson was tasked with making a bold prediction for the Bears in 2018. His choice involved them taking a quarterback for the second-straight year in the draft. Something they haven’t done since 2010 and 2011.
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“Last spring’s second overall pick, Mitchell Trubisky, is Chicago’s unquestioned starter heading into 2018, but the rest of the depth chart is fluid. There’s almost no chance that Mike Glennon returns for a second season. Not only is Glennon scheduled to make way too much money ($12.5 million), but he doesn’t fit the style of offense new head coach Matt Nagy is expected to run.
Third-string quarterback Mark Sanchez, who dutifully served as Trubisky’s mentor, is a free agent. The odds of Sanchez coming back are exponentially higher than Glennon’s chances of sticking around. Regardless, the Bears are definitely in the market for another backup.”
This time around would likely be more significant too. In 2010 and 2011 they chose Dan LeFevour and Nathan Enderle in the sixth and fifth rounds respectively. Neither amounted to anything in the NFL. In truth, this could end up being more like 2003 and 2004 when they chose Rex Grossman in the first round and then went after Craig Krenzel in the fifth the next year.
The idea is to get young, cheap depth at an affordable price. Somebody who might also become a possible trade asset down the road if they’re developed well. This 2018 draft class may offer some intriguing possibilities for Bears including names like Luke Falk, Kyle Lauletta, and Logan Whiteside. All have considerable talent but are likely to go in the later rounds due to various circumstances.
Depending on how the board falls, the Bears could be poised to scoop one of them up.
