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Will Brett Hundley Be The Future For The Chicago Bears?

By Jordan Campbell

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Jan 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) throws the ball during the first half of the 2015 Alamo Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears need a quarterback. Yes, Jay Cutler‘s contract makes it likely that he will be the Bears’ starting quarterback next season but that should not prevent the Bears from looking for Cutler’s replacement in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Bears likely will not have the opportunity to draft Florida State’s Jameis Winston or Oregon’s Marcus Mariota but UCLA’s Brett Hundley could be the one for the team. 

NFL Draft Experts appear to be in agreement that 2015 Quarterback draft class is weak. Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota of Oregon are undoubtedly the top quarterbacks available in the 2015 NFL Draft. Though, even Winston and Mariota have question marks.

Selecting Winston with a top-10 pick in the first round is considered a risk considering the quarterback’s behavior off the field. Between multiple criminal investigations and questionable behavior on Florida State’s campus, Winston is flooded with red flags despite being the most-talented quarterback in the 2015 draft class.

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Mariota, on the other hand, is the opposite of a distraction as the 2014 Heisman award winner has a reputation of being a tremendous on the field leader but his talent would suggest that he needs some developing before becoming an impact player in the NFL.

Despite their question marks, both Winston and Mariota are projected to be selected within the first ten picks of the 2015 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears have the seventh overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft and there is an outside chance that either Winston or Mariota will be available when the Bears are on the clock.

Though, even if either is available when the Bears are on the clock, the likely scenario is one that has the team draft a defensive player with their first round selection.

However, that does not mean that the Bears won’t address the quarterback position in either the second or third round.

The Chicago Bears need a long-term answer at the quarterback position. Jay Cutler is not that answer. In fact, if not this off-season, then Cutler and the Bears will likely part ways next off-season.

Assuming that Cutler and the Bears part ways after next season, the team would be wise to find Cutler’s replacement this season.

Considering the thin free agent quarterback class, the Bears would be best suited to find Cutler’s replacement in the 2015 NFL Draft. One option for the Bears could be UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.

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Hundley is considered to be the third best quarterback in the 2015 draft class behind Mariota and Winston. In his junior season with UCLA, Hundley tossed for 3,155 yards and 22 touchdowns while having a completion percentage of 69.1. Hundley also rushed for 644 yards last season to go along with 10 rushing touchdowns.

At 6′ 3″ and 227 pounds, Hundley is an ideal size to play quarterback in the NFL. Hundley also possesses a strong arm that is capable of making any throw on the field with strong accuracy as well. The downside to Hundley’s game is that the quarterback needs to improve his pocket presence as well as his defensive reads and ball placement.

The improvements needed from Hundley is the reason why the quarterback is a projected second or third round draft selection. Though, that is also what makes him a perfect quarterback option for the Bears. The Bears could select Hundley in the second round, or even the third round if he falls, and that would give offensive coordinator Adam Gase a quarterback to develop while Cutler presumably plays his last season with the Bears.

Then in 2016, with a season of development under his belt, Hundley could be ready to assume the starting duties from Cutler.

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