NFL Analysis Network

Why the Chicago Bears should target Mac Jones in the first round of the NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears made Russell Wilson’s list of desired landing spots, should the Seahawks want to trade him. Bears fans surely thought the franchise’s long-running quarterback issues were solved. Then, after the Seahawks turned down an offer for Wilson, they wound up with Andy Dalton. That move might work out nicely. But the Bears still don’t have a quarterback of the future.

With the 20th overall pick in next month’s draft, the Bears won’t be in position to take Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance. A fifth quarterback prospect, Mac Jones, is a likely first-round pick.

A February mock draft from Nick Farabaugh of Pro Football Network had the Bears taking Jones at 20. More recently, The Score’s post-free agency mock had the same. As did a recent mock from The Athletic (h/t to NBC Sports Chicago). In the Athletic mock, Bears writer Adam Jahns traded back into the first round (pick 30) to get Jones.

Some other mocks have Jones going in the top-10, via a trade up or otherwise. The New England Patriots at No. 15 has been tabbed as an ideal spot for Jones.

There are two primary knocks on Jones. One-he is not mobile or particularly athletic. Two-he threw to NFL-caliber wide receivers in his lone season as the starter at Alabama, which may have inflated his production. But he will be throwing to….NFL-caliber wide receivers in the NFL. So that second knock carries little water.

In Dalton, the Bears have an ideal bridge quarterback. They might win just enough games to save the jobs of head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace in 2021. But Nagy and Pace’s case to stay around will be bolstered by having a quarterback plan going forward.

The Bears should target Mac Jones

The Bears have a sneaky good collection of skill position talent (Allen Robinson, David Montgomery, Darnell Mooney, Anthony Miller, Cole Kmet). If they can figure out the offensive line, a quarterback will be in a good spot to succeed. But who will that quarterback be in 2022?

After the ill-advised trade up for Mitch Trubisky in 2017, there’s exactly zero confidence Pace will draft the right quarterback. Jones might fall into his lap at 20 though. If they pass on him and he falls, idea of giving up draft capital to get back into the first round and get him is well-founded. Trading up to get Jones should also be on the radar for the Bears.

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