It's no secret that the Chicago Bears are in the hunt for a new quarterback. One can say it's the all-consuming obsession of fans everywhere. This is the first time in eight seasons that the franchise is undergoing a major change at that position. Jay Cutler appears on his way out, the team ready for a fresh start and already rumored to have moves in mind.
Of course there remains the perceived interest in Jimmy Garoppolo. The New England Patriots backup shined in his brief opportunity last season. His hometown ties to Illinois, age and skill set are all things that just fit the Bears well. The problem is the asking price for him may be too high. Then there is Mike Glennon. Former backup for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he's viewed as one of the top options in a thin free agent class. Somebody the Bears are rumored to have interest in.
Most agree that Glennon is far from a franchise answer at the position. However, as a "bridge" QB who can start for a year or two while a team develops a rookie? He'd be a good choice. It's a matter of figuring out who the Bears might have in mind. Nobody knows for sure, but there is a new trail of bread crumbs that could tip off who they have in mind
THE FIRST PACE TARGET
Pace takes a lot of flak for his unwillingness to draft a quarterback over the past two years. It's easy to criticize but the reality is there are so many moving parts when drafting the potential future of the franchise. Do it too early when the team is rebuilding and it could ruin the player. There was also the Jay Cutler presence that Pace had to navigate. It was a difficult climate to walk into from a political standpoint. However, people tend to forget that Pace truly did consider making his QB move right away. In 2015, there were rumblings that the Bears were exploring a trade up from the #7 pick in the draft. Their target? Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, whom most felt would be available at the #2 spot held by the Tennessee Titans. Adam Hoge of WGN Radio explains how things played out."We’ll never know what the Tennessee Titans wanted for the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, but we do know the Bears were interested. General manager Ryan Pace correctly identified Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota as a prospect he could build an offense around, but the price was evidently too high. Jay Cutler potentially could have landed in Nashville, where he owns a home, but multiple high draft picks would have also headed south. Pace knew he had a major rebuilding project ahead of him and mortgaging the future in his first blockbuster move as a rookie general manager would have been risky."Odds are the Titans were already locked in on Mariota and no offer was going to budge them. Smart on their part and a good sign that Pace understands what good quarterbacks look like. Mariota perfectly fit his description of the best draftable type. Highly experienced and proof that he elevated the program when he played there. With him at the helm Oregon went 36-5 with three bowl victories and a national championship appearance. Why is this so important? Mainly because there is a player in this 2017 draft that has begun to mirror the same background and traits as Mariota.
MIRROR IMAGES
Deshaun Watson sent his draft stock into the stratosphere with his heroic comeback victory over mighty Alabama in the national championship game. It capped one of the most decorated and successful careers in college football history. Combined with his unique athleticism and clear intangible qualities as a leader and worker, some have begun to see a striking resemblance to Mariota. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Scouting-Deshaun-Watson-Clemson-QB-Bucky-Brooks-Draft-Notebook-NFL-Now.mp4"][/video] Brooks isn't the only prominent person to compare Watson to the Titans star. NFL.com colleague Lance Zierlein conducted a scouting report on him and reached the same conclusion. He explains it as such.NFL COMPARISON: Marcus Mariota
BOTTOM LINE: Teams will have to weigh the inconsistent field vision and decision-making against his size, athleticism, leadership and production. While not perfect, teams can add checks to both arm and accuracy boxes for Watson. However, discussions about whether or not his areas of improvement can be corrected will likely determine whether a team will view him as a high-upside prospect or a franchise quarterback. Watson's transition from Clemson's offense to a pro-style attack will obviously take time, but his combination of intangibles and athletic ability make him worth a first-round selection.Watson also has more experience than any QB in the 2017 class and was by far the best in Clemson history. In the two years before his ascent to the starting job, the team was a 21-5. In the two years he was at the helm, they went 28-2 and reached two-straight national title games. Both times he performed nearly flawless. As the stakes and the pressure mount, he seems to just get better. That is what NFL teams pine for in a quarterback.
