Chicago Bears: Early Three-Round 2017 Mock Draft

Gunner Kiel . 3. player. 57. Will this be the year that Ryan Pace finally starts adding to the quarterback position via the draft. So far he’s avoided it for two-straight off-seasons, preferring to ride it out with Jay Cutler as the starter and use free agency to improve the backup spots. Still it’s not something he can avoid forever. Cutler will be 34 next year and his body has taken a beating. There’s no telling what the next hit will do to him. The Bears need to at least start thinking about a succession plan. There would be limited risk in using a 3rd round pick at the position and high potential for reward. <p> </p> <p>Gunner Kiel remains one of the bigger enigmas going into 2017. Most experts knows what they see:  a kid with a big body, big arm, solid accuracy and ball placement and enough mobility to elude defenders and keep plays alive. What they haven’t seen yet is the necessary development as a quarterback in order to convince them he’s more than a project. He stares down his receivers and has a bad habit of opening himself up to hits that have resulted in bad injuries (missed two games in 2015 with a concussion). Still, there is plenty to like about his game and if given time it might become something significant.</p>. QB. Cincinnati