The Chicago Bears face a fascinating situation with 2023 drawing closer. Two things appear evident at this stage. One is that the team has a potential franchise quarterback in Justin Fields. His emergence over the last two months confirms how good he is and how much better he can still get. The other is that the team isn’t good at all. They’re 3-10 with four games to go. If things go as expected, the Bears might win one more game at most. That would put them as a virtual lock for a top five pick. If they lose every game, it will be top three.
That created an interesting question. Are there any teams in NFL history that followed a somewhat parallel course? That is to say, they had a promising young quarterback and a high draft choice going into an off-season. The short answer is yes. In the modern era, five teams fit the description. What stands out is how incredibly similar all of them approached the draft.
2018 49ers
Despite seeing that year end early due to a knee injury, Jimmy Garoppolo had shown enough flashes to the 49ers that he was their quarterback. His absence saw them stumble to the #2 overall pick in the 2019 draft. They ended up using it on future Pro Bowl defensive end Nick Bosa.
2009 Lions
Matthew Stafford was Detroit’s #1 overall pick and played like it before his season ended due to injuries. The Lions went 2-14, still recovering from their winless campaign in 2008. It worked out well. They scooped up Ndamukong Suh with the 2nd pick. He’d go on to multiple Pro Bowls in his career.
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1984 Oilers
Houston scored a significant coup that year when they signed CFL phenom Warren Moon at quarterback. His early stints were uneven, but it was obvious how bright his future was. The team stumbled into the 3rd pick in 1985, using it to snag five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ray Childress.
1980 Giants
Phil Simms was not a beloved figure early in his New York run, but he had flashes of brilliance that second season for the Giants. Injuries slowed him, though. When the team collected the #2 overall pick, they grabbed North Carolina pass rusher Lawrence Taylor. That seemed to work out pretty well.
1974 Colts
Bert Jones might be one of the most forgotten good quarterbacks in NFL history. That is likely due to how shortened his career was by injuries. By the mid-1970s, it was becoming evident he had greatness in him. Still, the Colts weren’t good in his second year. They got guard Ken Huff with the 3rd pick in 1975. While never a Pro Bowler, he played 11 years and started 104 games.
The Chicago Bears seem pointed in the same direction.
Given the current layout of the 2023 draft class, everything points to the top five picks either being a quarterback or a defensive lineman. Presuming the Bears hold the 2nd or 3rd picks, the heavy favorites to go that high are Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. It might sound counterintuitive with how much help Fields needs, but history shows this approach almost always yields positive results for the team.
San Francisco went to the Super Bowl in Bosa’s first season, along with a healthy Garoppolo. Detroit made the playoffs in 2011 and 2014 with the Stafford and Suh duo. Moon and Childress eventually led Houston to seven straight playoff appearances from 1987 to 1993. The Giants made the playoffs seven times and won two Super Bowls with Simms and Taylor. Jones and Huff got Baltimore to three consecutive playoff berths in the mid-1970s.
If the Chicago Bears play their cards right next spring, this is the sort of success they could set themselves up for in the coming years. Sustained success and competing for championships.
After reading this I sat and thought for a few minutes. I still can’t see how this makes any sense or how it affects the Bears. Are you saying teams that had a good qb drafted another good player a year or so later? So what?
Let’s do it. We’ve already got a group of good guys and can draft and sign a ton more. Let’s get a superstar with the first pick.