It looks like the Chicago Bears have their next starting quarterback in mind. At least for the 2017 season. Word hit recently that they've set their sights on 27-year old veteran Mike Glennon. Hailing from N.C. State, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013 and was their starter for 18 games during his first two seasons in the league.
Then he was relegated to backup duties when the team drafted Jameis Winston with the #1 pick in 2015. Since then he's fallen off the radar, leaving people with just fleeting memories of his stint on the field. Most have long since given up the idea he can start in the NFL, which was why it came as a shock when initial estimates are he'd bring in $14-15 million per year.
Since then people have been scrambling for answers. An answer as to why in the world GM Ryan Pace and his staff can possibly think this guy is worth investing in rather than just keeping Jay Cutler or bringing back Brian Hoyer. Perhaps it's time to ask some people who might know a few things about the man himself.
I decided to get an opinion from some people who have seen Glennon more up close and personal the past few years. Greg Auman is a Buccaneers beat writer for the Tampa Bay Times. He's watched the process play out with Glennon since he was a third round draft pick back in 2013. Though he believes he's the product of a weak free agent class, there is reason to think the Bears might be getting somebody with upside who is worth the look.
"Mike Glennon is well-positioned as the best option in a weak QB class of free agents. He's barely played in the last two years, but that's just a function of Jameis Winston not coming off the field much at all. His QB-INT ratio is better than any other QBs from the 2013 class. There's a lot of folks surprised he would command $14-15 million per year, but he has a more proven body of work than Brock Osweiler or Tyrod Taylor when they got their big deals. It's supply and demand, and there's not much supply. Really good guy in the locker room, very positive attitude and has waited patiently for an opportunity like this. Glennon isn't particularly mobile, but showed a good arm and withstood a fair amount of pressure when he was a starter -- 40 sacks in 13 games as a rookie."Auman wasn't alone in this assessment though. Roy Cummings of WFLA News Channel 8, who covers the Buccaneers locally, thinks there is merit to the idea. He touted the work the team has put in developing him as well as the personal opinion of their head coach as key reasons for the interest.
