Will Mitch Trubisky be the starter in 2020? The Chicago Bears indicated as much. However, that doesn’t mean the position itself on the depth chart will stay the same. Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray are both coming out of contract. Belief is strong from those close to Halas Hall that the team is planning some changes. Ones designed to improve the depth and also start pushing Trubisky more from behind. While free agency is viewed as the likely avenue to find that direct threat, the Bears are also rumored to be looking at potential draft prospects as well.
This doesn’t mean they will use one of their few high draft choices on one. Instead they may try to find a Day 3 option who has some upside they can develop. The Bears just made some significant changes to their coaching staff. Changes that include the additions of Bill Lazor as offensive coordinator and John DeFilippo as quarterback coach. This staff is as quarterback-friendly as any in the NFL. A perfect developmental situation.
That is why it was interesting to hear from Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle that the Bears were one of the teams to meet with Florida International quarterback James Morgan at the East-West Shrine Game. While not a big name to most in the 2020 class, there is clearly a lot of interest in the senior QB.
Chicago Bears are right to have interest in Morgan
Morgan is a fascinating prospect. A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, he grew up idolizing and modeling his game after Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. This is why he wears #12. He spent his first two years in college at Bowling Green State but wasn’t getting anywhere. So he decided to transfer to FIU. This was a smart decision as the program was being coached by Butch Davis. Not only is he among the more respected college coaches in history, but also a man with extensive NFL connections including two Super Bowl championships in Dallas.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
This pairing yielded instant results. Morgan broke out in 2018 with 2,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. At 6’4, he has good size and showed accuracy and arm strength in equal measure. He’s not afraid to be aggressive throwing down the field but seems to show good vision on where the open receivers are since he loves to spread the ball around. Five different players for FIU had 20 receptions or more in 2019. He operates well from the pocket but can also run when needed.
Morgan is not a Day 1 option for any team, but he has a significant upside. If a team has the patience to work with him, he can absolutely be a starter in the NFL.
