History Shows Where Chicago Bears Should Draft QB

It’s not a matter of if whether GM Ryan Pace will draft a quarterback in the 2016 NFL draft, but when. The 38-year old, in his second year running the franchise has stated on multiple occasions his goal is to pay more attention to the most important position on the roster by trying to add young bodies to it every year, if possible. Initial belief is the team will begin searching for options starting with the 3rd round.

#Bears are likely to draft a QB, just not with No. 11 pick, @CEmma670 writes: https://t.co/moOawOXRNg
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) March 29, 2016

Here’s the thing. Most have accepted the reality that Jay Cutler will be the starter in 2016. He did enough last season to earn that right. Still, he’s 33-years old and it should be pointed out he hasn’t completed a full season of 16 games healthy since 2009. On top of that, he has the seeming bad luck to follow good seasons with bad ones in his career.

2008: Threw for over 4,500 yards and went to the Pro Bowl
2009: Led the NFL in interceptions (26)
2010: Got team to the NFC championship on 3,400 total yards and 24 TDs
2011: Broke thumb on his throwing hand and was lost after 10 games
2012: Went 10-5 and rushed for career-high 233 yards
2013: Missed 5 games with injury and went 5-6

Some excuses will be made as to why he’s never been able to string together successful seasons, but the facts don’t change. To date Cutler is an erratic quarterback who can’t be counted on. Yes, he can deliver some great performances, but always with ugly ones sprinkled in. It can’t be just about drafting a quarterback for depth. The Bears can’t coddle Jay anymore. He needs competition.

Taking a quarterback in the mid to late rounds won’t cut it. Why? Simple history. Since the draft was created in 1936, Chicago has selected 59 quarterbacks. Of those, just four were elected All-Pro during their careers. Bobby Layne and George Blanda were eventual Hall of Famers taken by the Bears, but both experienced their greatest successes with other teams.

The other two, Sid Luckman and Johnny Lujack haven’t played a snap since the 1940s. They also have something else in common. Each was selected in the 1st round. To date the Chicago Bears have never drafted a quarterback in the 2nd round or later who became a legitimate starter who could play at the highest level.

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Don Meredith was a three-time Pro Bowler who came in the 3rd, but he didn’t take off until he landed in Dallas. Ed Brown was a two-time Pro Bowler but threw more interceptions than touchdowns in both seasons. In the past 40 years, only Kyle Orton (4th round) became a starter from later rounds and posted a winning record.
Even he was gone after four seasons though for the same reason he played for four other teams. He wasn’t good enough. To date Jim McMahon is the only quarterback of the Super Bowl era drafted by the Bears who reached a Pro Bowl. Guess where he was taken? The 1st round (5th overall in 1982).

The point is if Pace is serious about correcting decades of ineptitude at the quarterback position in Chicago, he should be the first GM in 13 years to have the guts to ignore the outside noise and go get one early. All signs point to at least one of the top three in the 2016 class being available when the Bears go on the clock with the 11th pick.

This “Cutler alone at the top” narrative hasn’t worked for seven seasons. Maybe it’s time to change things up.

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