Chicago Bears Called Perfect Home For "Less Polished Matthew Stafford"

In case nobody got the memo, the Chicago Bears are hot on the trail of finding their next quarterback. Jay Cutler, after eight years, seems to have finally run out of chances. Odds are growing the team will either trade or release him depending on how the situation plays out this March when the new league year begins with the start of free agency. Naturally the biggest question is who that replacement will be. At the moment New England Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo looks like the favorite. A 25-year old Illinois native who became a college star at the same school at the Bears GM? Too easy. Then there is the other Eastern Illinois standout Tony Romo. Though turning 37-years old in April, he might represent that ideal "bridge" quarterback who can help them win in 2017 while they take time to develop a youngster. Then of course there is the draft. Early perception is the upcoming class is "weak." Though there is talent worth exploring, the group is low on proven starters who could potentially play right away. Do the Bears have eyes for any of them? According to one expert, they should.

RISING STAR

Eric Galko, draft analyst for Sporting News and owner of optimumscouting.com has been hearing some rather surprising buzz around the league. Most of it in regards to the remarkable difference of opinions on the quarterback class. Though Deshaun Watson and Mitch Trubisky remain two of the popular names, he's beginning to hear some teams like another prospect more. His name is Patrick Mahomes. Indeed the young gunslinger from Texas Tech has a growing fan base in the draft community, and Galko believes there is a strong chance his stock could rise over the next couple months. So much that goes from a second or third round pick to a top 15 pick. Not only that but he also forsees the ideal landing spot.

"While Watson is the bigger name and will be the media's focus, Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech might be the true question mark for NFL teams. Some I've spoken with are right in line with my evaluation, wondering if he is the top quarterback in this class and whether he should go in the top 15. Others laugh at the idea of a gunslinger who won five games in 2016 going top 20. Based on my reading at this point, he ranges from the sixth best passer for some teams to maybe No. 1 for others, way more variable than Watson. To me, he's a less polished version of Matthew Stafford coming out of Georgia. I'd love to see him replace Jay Cutler in Chicago, but his most likely first-round spot for now is Arizona, with a host of teams interested if he falls to the second round."

CHICAGO CONNECTIONS

Indeed Mahomes is an intoxicating prospect to watch on film. At 6'3" he has solid NFL size. He can run pretty well, able to pick up yards or keep plays alive as a scrambler. The big draw though is his arm. Not only does he display top tier strength in distance and velocity, what stands out is how accurate he can be despite clearly underdeveloped mechanics. So many times he's thrown from awkward angles or with poor footwork. Yet the ball never ceases to hit receivers right on the money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4rGwPzAnbo https://twitter.com/TexasTechFB/status/790023831553310721 The running belief has always been that it takes a quarterback with a strong arm to play in Chicago. It's an outdoor stadium right on the lake where the winds can play havoc on the passing game. That's one of the reasons the Bears were drawn to Jay Cutler eight years ago. Mahomes definitely fits that mold. He's also got an intriguing background. His father Pat Mahomes was a Major League Baseball player for 11 years, playing for the Cubs in 2002. His god father was former pitcher Latroy Hawkins, another former Cubs player. Patrick dabbled in baseball as well, which would explain his ability to throw so well. He tossed a no-hitter as a senior in high school as was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 2014 MLB draft. Sports Mockery has it on good authority that a Chicago Bears Patrick Mahomes connection runs deeper than some realize. To the point where one can't discount the possibility they make some sort of play for him in the upcoming NFL draft. Though Mahomes may not be ready for the NFL yet, it's hard to argue against the fact he might be the most talented quarterback in the 2017 class.