Chicago Bears Should Bring Back Recently Released QB Josh McCown
Should the Chicago Bears look into a reunion with the recently released Josh McCown?
It is going to be extremely interesting to see what the Chicago Bears do at the quarterback position this off season. They are widely expected to move on from Jay Cutler and will have plenty to options to replace him.
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Trading for Jimmy Garoppolo of the New England Patriots is the hot Chicago Bears’ rumor right now. Garoppolo is a talented player who would be an immediate upgrade, but the asking price is going to be high. It will be interesting to see if the will actually pull the trigger on a Garoppolo deal.
They could also just as easily be in the mix for a quarterback with the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. DeShone Kizer, Mitch Trubisky and Deshaun Watson are all potential franchise quarterbacks who could catch the Bears’ attention at number three. They all do however come with their own obvious weaknesses.
The quarterback class in free agency is expected to be fairly weak. I could see the Bears making a run at someone like Tyrod Taylor if he becomes available, but there are not a lot of long-term options on the open market. What about a familiar face?
Earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns released quarterback Josh McCown. Bears’ fans will remember McCown from his success with the team back in 2013.
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Filling in for an injured Cutler, McCown started five games for the Bears that year (appeared in eight) and was more successful than the starter. McCown completed 66.5% of his passes for 1,829 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Bears in 2013, and only threw one interception.
McCown was an extremely efficient and reliable passer who looked great under center for the Chicago Bears. Even so, the Bears decided to stick with Cutler, allowing McCown to hit the open market in free agency. He cashed in on his success in Chicago, landing a nice two-year, $10 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He spent one year in Tampa before signing a free agent deal with the Browns. McCown has been up-and-down since leaving Chicago, but he is still a strong veteran quarterback who has some nice ability. If nothing else, McCown is considered a great leader who can manage a game well.
Now, I am not saying that the Bears should sign McCown and make him their starting quarterback. At 37-years-old, he is undoubtedly towards the end of his career. He would however, be a nice guy to have in the mix.
I could see the signing McCown and drafting a quarterback prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft. The guy they draft is obviously the long-term franchise signal caller for the team, but McCown can help him become a professional quarterback. Plus, you know he can at least keep you afloat if necessary.
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Whoever signs McCown this off season is probably not getting the same kind of player who we saw in 2013. But he is still a reliable NFL quarterback who is a great guy to have around. The Chicago Bears should make Josh McCown a free agent target this off season.