The thing to remember about drafting quarterbacks is sometimes things don't bounce the way a team wants it too. Some years the class might be loaded but the team isn't picking high enough. Others they'd have the high pick necessary but the class would be considerably weaker. It's about playing the lottery as much as anything and for years the Chicago Bears haven't gotten that winning ticket. This is why it's so important to do an in-depth study of all the quarterbacks in a class.
There is a chance, however unlikely, that a gem may be hidden somewhere in the bunch of future backups and castoffs. Maybe not quite at the Tom Brady level but a player who can emerge to become an effective starter in the league. Somebody who can buy them time and help the team win some games until "that" guy finally does show up.
Rest assured GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox will make this their top priority throughout the coming off-season. If they do the grunt work and are paying close attention, there's a good chance they might find what they're looking for. In fact, he may be closer to discovery than many people think.
The search will start for the Bears brass at the Senior Bowl starting January 24th. For the first time since 1996 the team will have a chance to coach the event along with the Cleveland Browns. It presents a legitimate opportunity to get an close-up look at some of the top prospects in the 2017 draft class. That includes the quarterbacks.
The tricky part is none of the currently projected top names are expected to attend the event. Mitch Trubisky, Deshone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes weren't eligible. Deshaun Watson was invited but declined to attend. This makes it difficult to think the Bears will likely find their next starter among those who are left.
https://twitter.com/Eric_Edholm/status/821805643640242176
Then again people said the same thing about the 2016 Senior Bowl. All eyes were on Carson Wentz during that event, but he didn't win MVP honor. That went to a seldom-mentioned other young quarterback out of Mississippi State named Dak Prescott. It seemed trivial at the time, but that performance caught the attention of one of the teams down there coaching the game in the Dallas Cowboys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbn90kJDJwM
So much in fact that they kept his name in mind during the draft and scooped him up early in the fourth round. A few months later he was elevated to the starting job after an injury to Tony Romo. He responded with Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors while leading Dallas to a 13-3 record.
Inevitably this leads to the next question. Could another Prescott possibly exist in this 2017 crop of QBs? It's possible, and it just so happens the Bears will be coaching him personally on the north squad.
Nathan Peterman is not a name that immediately comes to mind when referencing top quarterbacks in this draft. Despite overseeing one of the most productive offenses in college football this past season, Peterman is viewed as more of a game manager who benefited from an excellent ground attack. Easy to say when the team racked up 2, 926 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. Besides that there are some who remain critical of his game.
https://twitter.com/NFLFilmStudy/status/822666434010607616
Then again he may not be getting enough credit for what he can do. Peterman threw 27 touchdowns to just seven interceptions in 2016 and also holds an honor that no other quarterback has. He's the only one who successfully defeated eventual national champion Clemson. It wasn't in a messy defensive affair either. Pitt had to put up 43 points to do it, and Peterman led the way with 308 yards and five touchdown passes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p50d9GiB1dc
Peterman comes across as one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this class. He's played in a pro-style offense at Pitt where he logged plenty of time under center. At 6'2" he has decent height and underrated mobility. Four times this past season he rushed for at least 30 yards in a game and also scored twice. Of course that won't be the primary discussing point. The question always comes down to how hard can he throw and can he throw it accurately?
Peterman is not a gunslinger. Make no mistake of that. He won't be firing 60-yard passes down the field through the air. Nonetheless he's got a better arm than people give him credit for. Playing in that run-oriented Pitt offense just didn't ask him to go down the field much. Even so, there were moments that allowed him to showcase his ability to throw deeper strikes with timing, anticipation and accuracy.
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The Chicago Bears Nathan Peterman connection wouldn't be about showcasing a once-in-a-lifetime arm. This team is looking for somebody who can protect the football, keep the offense on schedule and make a few plays every week to put up some points. Above all? Avoid turning the football over. Peterman showed he could do all of that at Pitt.
He's 22-years old but already a married man. He overcame a difficult moment in his football life when he had to transfer from Tennessee after failing to gain the starting job. Pro offensive schemes won't overwhelm him thanks to his two years of experience with the Panthers. If ever there was a "later" pick the Bears could take advantage of that might pay huge dividends down the road, it's him.
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