Seriously speaking, I think that there is a bias in where Big 12 QBs are drafted overall. Some of the most creative and productive offenses in college football are (and have been) in the Big 12.
As a long term Big 12 football fan/viewer, I have seen a lot of shootouts that have produced unbelievable offensive production. The finest I saw were in the 2015 and 2016 seasons between the three QBs listed below. I think it was the best overall QB play I have ever seen among all of the Power 5 conferences.
The rivalry between all three was personal. Mayfield transferred out of Texas Tech to Oklahoma because he was going to lose his position as starting QB to Mahomes. Rudolph felt he got no coverage because of the other two. The games between the three were an absolute pleasure to watch. Most of the time there was close to 1,000 yards of offense between the two teams.
But my point about drafting Big 12 QBs is that all three were easily top half of the first round picks (based on collegiate performance). I think if KC didn't pick Mahomes at #10 in the 2017 draft, he would have easily dropped maybe 5 - 10 down in the draft. I assume that both Mahomes and Rudolph have a huge chip on their shoulders about where and how they were drafted.
Unfortunately, even if the Bears had drafted Mahomes, he would not have had the same experience here as he has had in Kansas City. That's not dissing Mahomes at all. He is probably going to go on to have a Hall of Fame career. This is what can happen when you get drafted by a team that understands how to put a young QB in a position to succeed - surrounded with amazing talent everywhere, AND nurtured and developed by one of the greatest football minds - future Hall of Fame coach Andy Reid. It was a perfect match (Mahomes and Kansas City).
The Bears? The Bears are a hell-hole for QBs who come here to die. We have no clue as to how to build an NFL-level quality offense. Clueless. I absolutely believe with all my heart and soul, that even if Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers had been drafted by the Chicago Bears, that they would have had poor careers and been Rex Grossman level QBs here. It is pretty sad.
