Chicago Bears mock draft: First four rounds

Dak Prescott, Quarterback, Mississippi State

Yes, Jay Cutler had a pretty good bounce-back season in 2015 after a bad 2014. He will be 33 when the season begins, however, and he has taken a lot of hits on his body during his tenure in Chicago.

The time to look for someone to step in for him is here.

Cutler will definitely be under center in the upcoming season, but after that all bets are off. His huge cap hit now will not be big after 2016, so the Bears may decide to trade him or cut him…if they have a proper replacement for him.

To get a good replacement, the Chicago Bears need to go through the draft. There are not many good choices for starting quarterbacks through free agency. They can pick one up now and have him learn the NFL game for a season (maybe two) and then hand the offense to him.

Dak Prescott would be my pick.

Prescott is a dual threat quarterback who tore up the SEC this past season. He completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,793 yards and 29 touchdowns to go with just five interceptions. He added 588 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He did this, mind you, with a bad Mississippi State offensive line.

We know that this is a copycat league, and with the success the Carolina Panthers with another dual threat quarterback, Cam Newton, teams looking for quarterbacks will try to use the same formula.

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I am not saying Prescott will be another Newton, but I do think he will be a pretty good pro. Scouts at the Senior Bowl fell in love with him. He has the physical attributes you want, and his football IQ is through the roof.

Prescott has the body to shed would-be tacklers, and has the arm to throw downfield on the run. His running ability can make life easier for Langford and the other running backs, as defenses would have to look out for Prescott to run.

Prescott can work through his progressions quickly, and has the ability to throw defenders off with his eyes. One of the criticisms of Cutler is his tendency at times to stare down his receiver, allowing the defender to jump his passes.

Next: Chicago Bears Free Agency: Safeties

Red-shirting Prescott for a season may be great for his development. He can get comfortable with the offense without having to shoulder the load yet. Then, when he is called upon to take over the offense, he should be ready.