The
Chicago Bears are almost certainly going to draft a quarterback in April. There are too many warning signs to ignore.
Andy Dalton is on a one-year contract after signing. Nick Foles is the backup and could be traded at some point. Beyond them, the team has nothing on the roster. One has to imagine GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy would like some long-term security at that position.
While Pace still runs the scouting department and has the final say over the roster, one has to imagine Nagy will have primary control over the quarterback search. It's his offense after all. He's a former QB and a former QB coach. One would think the Bears would put their trust in him finding the right guy. Will it be in the 1st round though? That is possible, but recently SM
reported that the Bears were doing tons of legwork on potential Day 2 options. This was later
corroborated by Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.
"But according to one league source, the Bears also have been doing significant homework on Day 2 quarterback prospects, hoping the detailed and collaborative evaluations of Pace, Nagy and their respective staffs can identify potential long-term difference-makers."
If this proves to be the case, who are the prominent names to watch? Here is the list that seems the most likely to fall in that range. Which do you think feels like the guy Nagy would want. For reference, remember the three keys he looks for in a quarterback: leadership, decision-making, and athleticism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQiLjp9G5R4&ab_channel=JustBombsProductions
Which of these four prominent QBs could Matt Nagy pinpoint?
Kyle Trask (Florida)
A lot of people didn't see Trask coming in 2020 but he lit up the scoreboards with over 4,200 yards and 43 touchdown passes. He certainly has the size at 6'5 and threw some pretty accurate balls over the course of the season. So is he a Nagy guy? It doesn't appear so for a couple of key reasons. Start with the basic one. Trask is kind of a statue. He doesn't move well and is heavily reliant on his protection to function properly.
Beyond that, it comes down to his field vision. Too often the Gators QB was caught completely off guard by disguised blitzes and missed easy reads on several throws. It too often felt like having some outstanding talent around him helped cover up some of the problems. Throwing into tight coverage too often and being too slow on progressions didn't help either. It doesn't sound like somebody Nagy would be excited to work with.
Kellen Mond (Texas A&M)
The Aggies QB came into 2020 with a lot to prove. Despite being one of the better athletes in this draft class, he still wasn't viewed as one of the more capable passers. All things considered, he quieted some doubters. In 10 games, he had over 2,200 yards with 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions. This despite not having anything close to the arsenal other top QBs enjoyed.
https://twitter.com/Jake_M_Garcia/status/1167288814244704256
He can definitely run and excels in RPO situations. Mond also improved his operation inside the pocket. However, there are definite concerns. One that is certain to concern Nagy? His timidity. Mond doesn't take many shots down the field and isn't all that good at them when he does. His timing and anticipation are also average at best. There seems to be a lack of swagger to his game.
Davis Mills (Stanford)
Nagy's right-hand man, quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo was down at Stanford's pro day working Mills out recently. The kid is certainly interesting. He has NFL size, a powerful right arm, and a solid delivery. He's not a natural runner but he is a better athlete than people think. A major concern with him is just 11 starts in college. This due in large part to knee problems and then the pandemic. So he's exceedingly raw.
https://twitter.com/gamscout/status/1373763637521883148
Yet he's gotten some excellent coaching during that time under David Shaw. Mills understands how to operate under center and seems comfortable in the pocket. Ball placement can be erratic at times and he's a tad on the reckless side with his decision-making. That said, he might be one of the better anticipatory passers in this class, able to turn the ball loose even before receivers are out of their breaks. He hasn't learned to go through progressions though, so that is something to watch.
Jamie Newman (Wake Forest)
Another talented young quarterback harmed greatly by the pandemic. Newman had transferred from Wake Forest to Georgia in hopes of elevating his stock ahead of this draft. Instead, he chose to opt out and spent that extra time preparing. He is by far one of the biggest wild cards in this class. Big, strong, and athletic with the ability to deliver some accurate throws.
Yet his lack of polish is evident. He sticks to primary reads too often. He'll fail to place the ball with any consistency down the field. There is little anticipation or timing in his throws and he demonstrates a persistent inability to see the field well. Is this who he is or is it a byproduct of starting just one full season of college football? Nobody can say for sure.
