Chicago Bears 2020 Draft: North Texas QB Mason Fine

It's hard to imagine that the Chicago Bears 2020 draft plans won't include a quarterback at some point. The question isn't a matter of if but when they decide to take one. Will it be early in the 2nd round when they go on the board for the first time or will they wait until the later rounds to take a project? Most importantly who will that guy end up being? Only GM Ryan Pace can answer that question and he's not talking.

Thus the search through the 2020 class continues. One name that has garnered a steady increase of buzz lately is North Texas senior Mason Fine. Arriving at that school in 2016, he has risen to become the best passer in its history with over 12,000 passing yards and 91 touchdowns. Quite the prolific career he's built. What people want to know is whether that can translate to the big stage.

Here is his scouting report.

Chicago Bears 2020 draft breakdown of Mason Fine

Strengths:

• Arm strength comes across right away. Has the ability to zip it into tight windows or attack over the top at will.
• No extra hitches in his throwing motion. Smooth delivery is quick to set up and quick to get it out.
• Accuracy won't be in question. Has delivered plenty of strikes at both the intermediate and deep levels of the field.
• Pocket awareness is surprisingly strong. Senses the pressure well and is usually able to escape or get the ball out for the defender arrives.

This is a play teams will circle back to. They want quarterbacks who are calm under pressure and can deliver the big play when it matters most. Not only does Fine stand in the pocket and deliver a strike, he willingly takes a brutal hit in the process. Teams love quarterbacks who have no fear in those situations. This kid delivered in every way imaginable.

• Mobility is a strength. Can take off and run on designed plays and is an instinctive scrambler.
• Makes good decisions. He'll routinely throw the ball away if he sees nothing open and also makes sure to slide when a scramble can't go further.
• Aggressiveness is always present. He's not afraid to take his shots down the field when he sees an opportunity.
• Reads the field surprisingly well. Comes off that first read and can often find the open man elsewhere.

Weaknesses:

• His size is going to be the biggest topic of discussion. Only 5'11 and has had a lot of footballs batted down at the line of scrimmage.
• Like most players in college, he's cut his teeth in a spread system playing exclusively in the shotgun. He'll need work to learn under the center.
• Playing at North Texas, he's feasted mostly on weaker college programs. The few times he's played a front-line school was a mixed bag.
• Though his accuracy is strong, his ball placement is not. Too often puts passes behind his receivers. Needs to learn to lead them better.
• Footwork will need to be a major source of focus. Tends to be all over the place and he won't get away with it in the NFL.

Pro comparison: Doug Flutie

Some people may try to compare Fine to Russell Wilson but that's not quite accurate. Wilson was a more special arm talent and managed to refine his game playing at both N.C. State and Wisconsin. The way Fine plays is a bit closer to Boston College legend Doug Flutie. The scrambling prowess, the aggressive mindset, and the erratic footwork were all staples of his game in college. He eventually overcame that to become a good quarterback in the NFL.

Projection: 4th round

Fine is one of those quarterbacks you'll say has every tool in the box. If only he were 2-3 inches taller. Smaller quarterbacks are making waves in the NFL these days which is a good thing and he has enough ability to be a starter at the pro level. The key is he'll need to embrace the complex mechanics of pocket operation and also learn how to read defenses pre-snap. He'll also need to land in under a coach who embraces what he does best.