Experts were trying to slam Mitch Trubisky from the beginning. He’s too inexperienced. He’s not big enough. The Chicago Bears way overpaid to get him. By this point, fans have heard them all. The latest jab came courtesy of NFL.com “expert” Gregg Rosenthal who left the former #2 overall pick off his top 32 quarterback rankings. It’s getting comical at this point, especially when the truth seems to lay elsewhere.
People often have a misconception about free agency. Yes, teams are scouting out veteran players they want to sign. What some seem to forget is that many of those players are scouting out teams as well. Mike Glennon said last year that the Bears were one of the teams he felt employed an offense that fit his style. Sure, the millions of dollars probably helped but still.
That truth has since carried over into 2018. For the first time in what feels like ages, the Bears have a young quarterback that has a caliber of talent equal to some of the best in the NFL. It didn’t always show last season, but there were frequent glimpses. It would seem both of the Bears primary receiver acquisitions took notice.
Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel were fascinated by Mitch Trubisky
Former Pro Bowler Allen Robinson spoke with Pro Football Weekly on the subject. Being sidelined with his torn ACL, it gave him extra time to evaluate the landscape when he became a free agent this month. While there were plenty of interesting spots, he couldn’t help but keep taking notice of Trubisky over in Chicago.
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“There were some throws he made … and I was like, ‘Wow, these guys really have a quarterback,’ ” Robinson said. “I know some guys on the team, so Chicago was a team I watched a few times. I got a chance to watch him play, and I saw a lot of good things.”
Trubisky made a number of wow throws similar to the one seen above, particularly late in the season. It was clear indication he was starting to understand the pro game and it was slowing down for him. As it turns out though, another receiver addition was sold on the rookie long before that. Taylor Gabriel said he first became enamored with Trubisky on opening day last season.
“We played them last year (Week 1), but we didn’t get to see him because [Mike Glennon] was playing,” Gabriel recalled. “But I got to talk to him a little bit after the game. He just seemed like a very confident guy; very confident in himself and the things that he was doing. I looked up a few of his highlights on YouTube as well, and the guy can sling it.”
Such things can often mean a huge difference in free agency. The big names tend to gravitate towards the quarterbacks. For the Bears to secure two of the best receivers on the market, there’s no denying that the presence of Trubisky played a huge role in that. He’s only 23-years old and already has a favorable reputation in NFL circles. This speaks to his talent and his personality as a player and leader.
Would any of that happen if he were as bad as critics love to point out? The answer seems obvious.
