TRUBISKY TOO RISKY? YES, NO, MAYBE SO
Bears GM Ryan Pace seemed to go out on a limb, but he thinks risk will be rewarded
Bears general manager Ryan Pace said he drafted the best available players from Thursday to Saturday— and they were a potential franchise quarterback in Mitch Trubisky, one FCS running back, two Division II players and a safety with a rod in his leg. He believes in them wholeheartedly. Should Bears fans? The Sun- Times’ Bears experts— Adam L. Jahns, Patrick Finley and Mark Potash— break down the team’s 2017 draft:
OK with the Mitch Trubisky pick?
Jahns: Yes, and it starts with respecting the gumption it took to make it. It doesn’t matter if the 49ers had other serious offers. The Bears felt threatened in their pursuit of Trubisky because teams were calling them about their own No. 3 pick and decided to take action. If you love a player, go get him. Don’t live with regret. The Bears should’ve done that in 2014 with defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Finley: Yes and no. I have zero problem with Pace falling in love with a quarterback and selecting him in the first round. What he had to do to get Trubisky, though, is another matter: trade a third- round pick, a fourth- round pick and next year’s third to move ove up one spot. Even though the Bears recouped a fourth- rounder later, they never had the volume ume of picks to tap into o a deep defensive draft. raft.
Potash: It’s hardrd to see right now how Trubisky is that much better than Deshaun aun Watson, but Pace’s’ s willingness to go allon
allin on his conviction is admirable.
If it doesn’t work out, there will be plenty of time to tell him how wrong he was.
Do the Bears have a quarterback controversy?
Jahns: Not yet. Trubisky hasn’t even practiced at Halas Hall. But you have to wonder what’s going on in Mike Glennon’s head. This is the second time he has been through this in his career with coaching changes in Tampa resulting in the Buccaneers selecting quarterback JameisWinston first overall two years ago. Glennon might know how to handle his situation, but it doesn’t mean he has to like it.
Finley: You bet they do. Glennon will start Game 1, but this is where things get awkward for him and Trubisky. Glennonmust be afforded patience— he hasn’t started a game in two years— yet the first time he throws an interception, the fans will start chanting Trubisky’s name. That’s not fair to Glennon or Trubisky, who, after not huddling, calling plays in a pro- stylemanner or being under center in college, needs at least one year to prepare. The Bears have been clear in saying that Glennon— whom they, amazingly, invited to their public watch party Thursday at Soldier Field— is their starter this year. But this is merely the start of a very delicate dance.
Potash: Within Halas Hall, no. But outside of Halas Hall, absolutely, unless Glennon quickly establishes himself as a quarterback the Bears can win with. In the current environment, there’s only one quarterback that Bears fans will be in the mood to lose with, and that’s Trubisky. If Glennon falters, it was a bad read by Pace. If Trubisky falters, it’s growing pains. Huge difference.
My favorite pick ...
Jahns: Make it two: tight end Adam Shaheen and running back Tarik Cohen. Both players face major jumps in competition after playing at small schools. It has seemingly been forgotten that the Bears did have needs on offense. They ranked 28th in scoring last year. They needed more firepower.
Finley: The Bears were desperate for a free safety with ball skills and, to a lesser extent, an exciting punt returner, and Alabama’s Eddie Jackson gives them both. They needed defensive help like the city needs a sunny day, and, for the first time in 16 years, they drafted only one. If he can stay healthy— a problem around Halas Hall last year— the third- round pick could be a steal. Potash: Shaheen in the second round ( 45th overall). Love his potential as a dynamic, matchup-nightmare downfield threat. And it’s another test of Pace’s conviction in a player he rated higher than others and his evaluation that a player who dominates at a smallschool level can be a differencemaker in the NFL.
The Bears will regret ...
Jahns: Nothing. From Trubisky to guard Jordan Morgan, Pace feels that strongly about what the Bears added in the draft. Drafting the “best player available” is cliché in the NFL, but not at Halas Hall. With a rebuilding effort to run ( not to mention needs everywhere), Pace lives by it.
Finley: Going 67 choices— from the 13th pick in the second round to the fifth pick of the fourth round— without making a selection. Eleven cornerbacks were drafted during that span, along with six safeties. The defensiveback class was said to have starters throughout the third round.
Potash: Having only five picks in this draft. It looks like this will end up being a pretty deep draft. Unless Trubisky ends up becoming Aaron Rodgers, the Bears could’ve traded down and filled more holes.
The Bearsfilled this need ...
Jahns: Tight end. It was in the Bears’ best interest to take advantage of a deep tight- end class even if Dion Sims was signed in free agency. ZachMiller is 32 and coming off another foot surgery. Time will tell if he can be the same player. The Bears like Ben Braunecker, Daniel Brown and MyCole Pruitt, but expectations for them should be measured.
Finley: They finally added a quarterback to dream on. Pace sold Glennon as a capable starter last month, but his actions showed he wanted more. For a franchise whose most accomplished quarterback is Sid Luckman— whose career began during the FDR administration— or Jay Cutler, the threat of a blue- chipper is a welcome change.
Potash: Hope. By drafting Trubisky, the Bears have a player fans can look to for the next one or two seasons as a reason for optimism. In that regard, it was a master stroke by Pace. Let Glennon get the Bears from Point A to Point B, then let the No. 2 overall pick take over when the Bears are ready to win big. Even if that scenario turns out to be balderdash, with Trubisky, it at least could happen— and Bears fans will cling to it like a new- born child.
The Bears missed this need ...
Jahns: Edge rusher. They’ve spent in free agency to improve the secondary and moved 2016 fourth- round pick Deiondre’ Hall to safety, but a strong pass rush helps everything. Beyond Leonard Floyd, the Bears have veterans coming off surgeries in Pernell McPhee, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston. They can be a good bunch, but adding another young player would’ve helped. Roy Robertson- Harris, an undrafted free- agent signing last year, is an unknown.
Finley: They entered the draft with a starting job open at defensive end and didn’t select a single one.
Potash: A defensive end. The Bears had a chance to get a player — Jonathan Allen or Solomon Thomas— who would’ve provided a dynamic upgrade from work man like Mitch Unrein. That could’ve had a chain- reaction impact. Now they’re counting on 2016 thirdround pick Jonathan Bullard to make a quantum leap in 2017.
The Bears’ draft was ...
Jahns: A statement. These are Pace’s Bears, and now he has his quarterback for his rebuild. It wouldn’t be complete without the most important position in sports in the fold. The Bears still will try to win in 2017, but Pace is operating with a long- term focus.
Finley: Odd. Last year, the Bears had their worst record since the NFL expanded to 16 games— yet they appeared to do little to add immediate help. The Bears’ fan base— and, we presume, their coaching staff— wanted a more immediate talent infusion. Pace, though, is playing the long game. It could be ingenious, or a disaster.
Potash: A big roll of the dice for Pace. He could’ve played it safe and traded down formore picks to address themyriad issues on his roster. Instead, he took boom- orbust shots with his first two picks. The Bears will not be uninteresting the next couple of seasons.