Post by GrizzlyBear on Nov 1, 2016 13:21:05 GMT -6
Interesting read.
sportsmockery.com/2016/10/chicago-bears-unlikely-to-draft-a-qb-high-says-nfl-insider/
sportsmockery.com/2016/10/chicago-bears-unlikely-to-draft-a-qb-high-says-nfl-insider/
Bears unlikely to draft a QB high says NFL Insider
Rumors persist that the Chicago Bears are ready to put an end to the Jay Cutler era. Whether that involves John Fox or not is the question left unanswered.
GM Ryan Pace has carefully navigated the quarterback question since he took over the team last year. He has yet to pick one in back-to-back drafts, choosing instead to stick with Cutler as he goes about reloading a depleted roster. However, things have come to a head this 2016 season. After a rocky start to the year, the 33-year old injured the thumb on his throwing hand for the second time in his career.
It forced him out of the lineup for a number of weeks, allowing backup Brian Hoyer a chance to play. Though he ultimately failed to seize the job, Hoyer did at least prove more efficient in his execution. That more than anything was the reason Fox hinted the job was his if he kept playing well. Then Hoyer broke his arm against Green Bay. For the first time people were exposed to how tense a situation behind the scenes had unfolded between the head coach and Cutler.
Sides are already being taken. Fox is rumored to want to move on. Teammates are backing Jay. Amidst all that is the reality a change is coming. Cutler will be 34-years old in 2017 and no longer be guaranteed any money. Pace will have his green light to find a replacement, but do any exist? Former head coach and current Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden says it’s complicated.
He sat down with Chicago Tribune reporter Rich Campbell to discuss Cutler and what the Bears might do at quarterback moving forward. His answer regarding their potential moves in 2017 was eye-opening to say the least.
“You’ve got to get the right guy. I don’t care who it is. Just because you draft a guy doesn’t mean you’ve got the right guy. I remember when Andy Reid took over the Kansas City Chiefs, they were 2-14. Andy is a good friend of mine. And they had the No. 1 pick in the draft (in 2013). There was no quarterback in the draft, so they took a tackle out of Central Michigan named Eric Fisher. Andrew Luck wasn’t in that draft. Sorry, but Andrew’s not in there this year. So every year you’ve got to take the pool of players. Is there a free agent? Is there a guy we can trade for? He got Alex Smith.”
A few things to take away from those comments? Gruden doesn’t have strong feelings about the 2017 quarterback class. Keep in mind this is a man who was an offensive coordinator. He coached Pro Bowlers at that position and has the Super Bowl ring to prove it. It’s safe to say he knows what he’s talking about. So when he says a QB class isn’t looking too good, that means something.
The Bears have scouted those quarterbacks for weeks. Ryan Pace himself was at the Notre Dame vs. Miami game this past weekend to see top prospects DeShone Kizer and Brad Kaaya. It wasn’t exactly the shootout one would expect from two top college QBs. So assuming Gruden is correct and the draft may not yield a solution to the Bears’ problem, the means free agency or a trade could be in the future.
Keep in mind the Chiefs traded two 2nd round picks to San Francisco in exchange for Alex Smith. That is likely the minimal price Chicago would have to pay for somebody of note on the market. Somebody like Jimmy Garoppolo. Will the price be worth it?
Jerry Angelo was asked recently whether he’d do the Cutler trade over again if he had a choice. His answer was pretty enlightening.
“I would do that trade over again and not even think twice about it,” Angelo said. “In my mind, there is no price for a quarterback.”
History shows that this is the truth. Teams have had a lot of success trading for quarterbacks, either in the draft or from other squads. Just look at how good things are going for the Philadelphia Eagles with Carson Wentz. They gave up a king’s ransom to get him but likely aren’t regretting the move in the slightest.
If Ryan Pace believes the “right” guy is out there, then he has every reason to go get him.
GM Ryan Pace has carefully navigated the quarterback question since he took over the team last year. He has yet to pick one in back-to-back drafts, choosing instead to stick with Cutler as he goes about reloading a depleted roster. However, things have come to a head this 2016 season. After a rocky start to the year, the 33-year old injured the thumb on his throwing hand for the second time in his career.
It forced him out of the lineup for a number of weeks, allowing backup Brian Hoyer a chance to play. Though he ultimately failed to seize the job, Hoyer did at least prove more efficient in his execution. That more than anything was the reason Fox hinted the job was his if he kept playing well. Then Hoyer broke his arm against Green Bay. For the first time people were exposed to how tense a situation behind the scenes had unfolded between the head coach and Cutler.
Sides are already being taken. Fox is rumored to want to move on. Teammates are backing Jay. Amidst all that is the reality a change is coming. Cutler will be 34-years old in 2017 and no longer be guaranteed any money. Pace will have his green light to find a replacement, but do any exist? Former head coach and current Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden says it’s complicated.
He sat down with Chicago Tribune reporter Rich Campbell to discuss Cutler and what the Bears might do at quarterback moving forward. His answer regarding their potential moves in 2017 was eye-opening to say the least.
“You’ve got to get the right guy. I don’t care who it is. Just because you draft a guy doesn’t mean you’ve got the right guy. I remember when Andy Reid took over the Kansas City Chiefs, they were 2-14. Andy is a good friend of mine. And they had the No. 1 pick in the draft (in 2013). There was no quarterback in the draft, so they took a tackle out of Central Michigan named Eric Fisher. Andrew Luck wasn’t in that draft. Sorry, but Andrew’s not in there this year. So every year you’ve got to take the pool of players. Is there a free agent? Is there a guy we can trade for? He got Alex Smith.”
A few things to take away from those comments? Gruden doesn’t have strong feelings about the 2017 quarterback class. Keep in mind this is a man who was an offensive coordinator. He coached Pro Bowlers at that position and has the Super Bowl ring to prove it. It’s safe to say he knows what he’s talking about. So when he says a QB class isn’t looking too good, that means something.
The Bears have scouted those quarterbacks for weeks. Ryan Pace himself was at the Notre Dame vs. Miami game this past weekend to see top prospects DeShone Kizer and Brad Kaaya. It wasn’t exactly the shootout one would expect from two top college QBs. So assuming Gruden is correct and the draft may not yield a solution to the Bears’ problem, the means free agency or a trade could be in the future.
Keep in mind the Chiefs traded two 2nd round picks to San Francisco in exchange for Alex Smith. That is likely the minimal price Chicago would have to pay for somebody of note on the market. Somebody like Jimmy Garoppolo. Will the price be worth it?
Jerry Angelo was asked recently whether he’d do the Cutler trade over again if he had a choice. His answer was pretty enlightening.
“I would do that trade over again and not even think twice about it,” Angelo said. “In my mind, there is no price for a quarterback.”
History shows that this is the truth. Teams have had a lot of success trading for quarterbacks, either in the draft or from other squads. Just look at how good things are going for the Philadelphia Eagles with Carson Wentz. They gave up a king’s ransom to get him but likely aren’t regretting the move in the slightest.
If Ryan Pace believes the “right” guy is out there, then he has every reason to go get him.
