The Chicago Bears are in desperate need of a quarterback. This is hardly new information. It’s been that way for decades. When will it be their time? Mitch Trubisky was the latest failure. While nowhere near the worst attempt they’ve made, it’s apparent he lacks the necessary traits to thrive against the best in the NFL. Already people are looking to the 2021 draft for hope. Maybe Zach Wilson of BYU? Or what about Kyle Trask of Florida? All the while they’re forced to stare at the New York Jets with great envy as they draw ever closer to drafting Trevor Lawrence.
Anybody who watches college football knows the name. Lawrence is the star quarterback of Clemson. A national champion in 2018, he has dominated the ACC since he first took the field. Most experts view him as probably the best all-around QB prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck. As close to a can’t-miss guy as it gets.
It’s hard not to envision how good he’d look in navy blue and orange.
Sadly it just doesn’t seem realistic. The Bears hold the 15th overall pick with three games to play. So even if they wanted to trade up, there’s no way they could. Right? Well, not necessarily. Let’s play hypothetical for a second. It’s been rumored that Lawrence to the Jets isn’t a sure thing. Some believe he may not want to play for New York given their questionable history. Others wonder if the Jets aren’t ready to abandon Sam Darnold. Maybe they could keep him and trade #1 for a mountain of picks.
Could the Bears get involved in that? Yes. In fact, they even have a blueprint for what such a trade could look like. Back in 2016, the St. Louis Rams built a blockbuster package around their 15th overall pick to jump up to #1 overall and selected Jared Goff out of California. Here is what the trade ended up being.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Titans received:
- #15 pick
- 2nd rounder in 2016
- 2nd rounder in 2016
- 3rd rounder in 2016
- 1st rounder in 2017
- 3rd rounder in 2017
Rams received:
- #1 pick
- 4th rounder in 2016
- 6th rounder in 2016
Is Trevor Lawrence worth it? Only one way to find out
Now it’s important to point out Lawrence is a much more highly graded prospect than Goff was. So it’s possible the Jets could ask for even more than that. Still, this provides the ballpark for what the Bears would have to give up if they want to be in the conversation. That might be hard for some people to swallow. Especially after all the high picks this team has surrendered in previous trades for Trubisky, Khalil Mack, and Anthony Miller.
The Rams must be regretting that trade for Goff, right? Not necessarily. Since taking over as the starter, Los Angeles is 42-25 including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2018. They’re 9-4 this year and on track to make the playoffs for the third time in four years. How many Bears fans would willingly give up that trade package in exchange for such success?
They’ve tried every other way. So why not just go for broke?
Trevor Lawrence has all the tools imaginable to be a star in the NFL. He’s got size, athleticism, arm strength, and an ultra-competitive will to win. This is the sort of talent a team can build around for a decade or more. Will it happen? Probably not. To say it can’t though would be incorrect.
