The Chicago Bears 2020 draft plans continue to shift as the 2019 season roles on. One thing is becoming clear though. The offense may yet again get the bulk of the attention. Tight end and offensive guard appear to be two areas in need of some eventual tweaking. What people still aren’t certain of is whether quarterback will be added to the list. Mitch Trubisky played much better in Washington in Week 3. What they need to know is whether he can continue to improve.
Backup is certainly something to look at with Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray both set to become free agents. It might be the perfect opportunity for them to bring in some needed depth, and perhaps a little competition for Trubisky as well. So could Jake Fromm of Georgia be somebody they might have a shot at? He’s had plenty of success on the field and GM Ryan Pace is noted for his love for Bulldogs players.
Here is what they likely see from the young QB.
Chicago Bears 2020 draft look at Jake Fromm
Strengths:
- Size isn’t too bad. Is tall enough to see the field and can stand up to most of the hits he’ll likely take.
- Has the quick release to get the ball out fast, limiting the chances a defense will have to force a fumble.
- Accuracy is a strong feature of his game. When he is able to deliver from a clean pocket, the ball is almost always a strike.
- Field vision is on point. Can survey things and finds the open man with the necessary quick processor.
This is Fromm at his absolute best. Big game against a top opponent. Takes the snap and surveys. Has a good pocket and shows the strong feet to set up his throw. Delivers the ball with authority and places it with absolute perfection towards the sideline where the only person who can possibly catch it is his wide receiver for a touchdown. Making that throw, in general, is tough. Making it in a big game? That means something.
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- Is not a one-read quarterback. He will stand in the pocket and go through his progressions searching for the right throw.
- Show the desired poise within the pocket. Keeps eyes down the field even when pressure swirls around him.
- Short-term memory. Not a guy who lets a mistake linger in his mind. Does a good job of moving on to the next play.
- Doesn’t shy away from contact. He’ll run the QB sneak without hesitation and will go head-first on scrambles.
Weaknesses:
- His arm is not top grade. There are limitations to how much velocity he can put on it, especially when throwing off-platform.
- His deep ball isn’t anything special. If he is asked to uncork one 50-60 yards down the field, odds it will be completed are low.
- Mobility is average. He can take off an run when he has a lane but escaping defenders is not something he’ll do often.
- Improvisation is not his calling. He’s more of a timing and rhythm guy. Working magic after a play breaks down isn’t where he thrives.
- Like a lot of QBs, he doesn’t handle persistent pressure well. Tends to lose a lot of his accuracy and gets flustered.
- There is evidence that teams can confuse him when they crowd zones with extra DBs. Doesn’t always show the patience to wait for an open man.
Pro Comparison: Andy Dalton
People will cringe when hearing this name but it’s not a slight. Dalton may not be a superstar but he’s been a solid quarterback for a long time in the NFL. A three-time Pro Bowler who will surpass 30,000 yards and 200 touchdowns in 2019 with the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s just that he has limitations as to what he can do when forced to improvise and doesn’t have an elite arm. These problems always seem to show up in the playoffs.
Projection: 1st-2nd round
From an experience, productivity, and developmental standpoint Fromm is a 1st round quarterback. If one were serious about his skill set though? He has more the look of a Day 2 guy. Probably somewhere in the top end of the 2nd round. He has the look of somebody who is a tremendous leader and competitor who gets the most out of the physical traits he has. At the same time, he falls into that category of a quarterback a team can win with more often than because of.
