2017 NFL Mock Draft: Bears Make Shocking Quarterback Selection in Matt Miller’s Latest Mock
In his most recent 2017 NFL Mock Draft for Bleacher Report, Matt Miller has the Chicago Bears making a shocking quarterback selection at number three overall.
Do not fear, 2017 NFL Mock Draft season is here! While it will ramp up even more after the post-season, there is plenty of draft coverage to go around now that the NFL regular season is over. For fans of the lowly Chicago Bears, that is great news.
It is hard to be too shocking this early in the process. Pretty much anything can happen between now and April, but Bleacher Report NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller really surprised me with his Bears’ selection in his latest 2017 NFL Mock Draft.
In his seven-round mock draft released on Monday, Miller had the Bears taking Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with the third overall selection. The Bears have an obvious need at the quarterback position, but selecting Allen over Deshaun Watson or star defensive lineman Jonathan Allen was a major surprise to me.
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Let’s see what Miller has to say about the Bears’ selection of Allen:
“Who?” Miller began. “Allen wasn’t a big name coming into the 2016 season, but he has played well enough—and showed NFL-style traits—to shoot way up the board if he decides to enter the 2017 draft class.”
“Why should Bears fans be excited? Because Allen has the size (6’5″, 220 lbs), arm, mobility and gunslinger mentality to develop into a great quarterback,” he continued. “He’s not NFL-ready right out of the gate, but none of the passers in this year’s class are. Investing in the future, with another year of Matt Barkley at quarterback, is the way general manager Ryan Pace should be thinking.”
“The Bears also have other needs, but missing out on a quarterback would set this rebuild back another year.”
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First and foremost, I have to admit that I do not know too much about Allen as a prospect. I do know that NFL Draft Twitter is falling in love with his upside at the next level. However, I am surprised to see him even listed as a 2017 possibility. Let alone a top three pick.
Miller is undoubtedly plugged into the NFL Draft scene. Him taking a stance like this on Allen should not be taken lightly. However, it is still shocking to me to see him mentioned this high.
I am going to do some work on Allen in the very near future, but I know that his upside as a play-maker in the NFL is for real. Ryan Pace has shown that he loves shooting for upside with his first-round selection in the last two drafts. Based on that alone, I suppose this is possible.
The surprising quarterback selection is the obvious headliner for the Bears, but they did have other picks. Washington cornerback Sidney Jones would be a fantastic pick by the Bears in the second round, and there is also a lot to like about them snagging USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the third round.
Louisville tight end Cole Hikutini, Purdude defensive lineman Jake Replogle, Kansas State EDGE Jordan Willis and Iowa offensive tackle Cole Croston rounded out the seven-round mock for the Bears.
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We have a long way to go until the draft, but Miller has really given us something to think about. Josh Allen appears to be a legitimate top five option. He is a prospect who Bears’ fans are going to wan to get to know.