2017 NFL Draft: Brad Kaaya the Best Plan B at Quarterback for Chicago Bears

If the Chicago Bears don’t draft a top quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft, Brad Kaaya could be the next best option.

Whether you agree with it or not, the Chicago Bears will draft a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. They may not do it with the third-overall pick, but it will happen at some point. After not drafting one in his first three seasons, Ryan Pace cannot afford to pass on a quarterback this year. If the Bears end up with another top-five pick next season and he doesn’t have a possible franchise quarterback to sell as hope, he may not last another season in Chicago.

The most persistent rumors about the Bears’ quarterback plans have centered around the top four quarterback prospects. In particular, recent reports have linked Deshaun Watson to Chicago at #3 overall. Though Watson hasn’t worked out for the Bears privately, Chicago’s strong presence at his Pro Day suggests strong interest. And quite likely, they wouldn’t have a shot at him or Mitch Trubisky at anywhere other than third overall.

If they traded down from the third pick into the teens, Patrick Mahomes and DeShone Kizer should still be available. And amid rumors of his falling draft stock, the Bears might be able to trade back into the late first round for Kizer or even nab him at #36 overall if they wanted.

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Despite the risk, history suggests the Bears should invest in a top prospect if they want a future franchise quarterback. If they choose to wait until a later round, the second tier of quarterbacks offers even more question marks. Nathan Peterman, whom the Bears saw a lot of at the Senior Bowl, looks like a logical second/third-round target because of his “pro-style” offense experience. Truthfully, though, Peterman’s skill set probably makes him little more than a smaller, slightly more athletic Brian Hoyer. Davis Webb is tall, smart and throws a great go-route, and that’s about it. Right now, he’s lucky not to trip over his own feet dropping back from under center. And while I really like Joshua Dobbs, he needs to improve from the pocket a lot before he’ll be ready to play in the NFL.

Bottom line: while the defense certainly needs (and will get) help, I’ll be disappointed if Pace doesn’t draft one of those top-four guys. But if there’s one second-tier quarterback I’m mildly interested in if the Bears wait until later rounds, it’s Brad Kaaya. Though currently thought of as a third/fourth-round quarterback, many had him ranked prematurely as a top-two or three quarterback in 2017 NFL Draft following his 2015 season.

When Kaaya gets it right, he is one of the most NFL-ready quarterbacks in this class. He is one of the few pure drop-back, pocket passers in this draft class. This gives him a slight edge over the top prospects, who all must refine their play in the pocket. And despite not having top-tier arm strength, he has excellent mechanics and, when he’s in a groove, can deliver pinpoint balls and even drive NFL-level out routes.

As mentioned in Da Windy City’s 2017 NFL Draft Profile on him, his upside is very limited in a vacuum. He doesn’t make plays with his feet much. He doesn’t possess the kind of “wow” arm talent that Mahomes and Kizer do. And he’s not always consistently accurate even with his stellar technique. This partially lead to a modest completion percentage last year (62%), though drops by his team also plagued him.

This can still be concerning since completion percentage rarely improves in the NFL. He also struggles significantly with throwing under pressure. But if he plays behind a solid offensive line that keeps him clean, he absolutely can move an NFL offense.

I give Kaaya an edge over Peterman for two reasons: size and technique. While Peterman isn’t small at 6’2″, Kaaya’s 6’4″ height gives him a better view at the line. It’s a minor issue, but behind big NFL offensive lines, a few extra inches certainly won’t hurt. As a pocket passer, however, Kaaya is much more fundamentally sound than Peterman.

Kaaya’s footwork especially doesn’t exhibit some of the wasted motion that Peterman’s does, which can cause lateness and inaccuracy on throws. And for two quarterbacks who have comparably average arm strength, any extra inconsistencies can cause problems against faster NFL defenses and tighter throwing windows. And while Webb and Dobbs have more upside than Kaaya, his experience as a pocket passer makes him less of a “developmental” prospect.

Next: 2017 NFL Draft Profile: QB Brad Kaaya

Ultimately, Kaaya will still be a work in progress and may not have the upside of a true franchise quarterback. As such, drafting him wouldn’t fully ease my disappointment in missing out on the top-four quarterback prospects. But if I had to pick one mid-round guy that could potentially be a dependable starter, it’s Kaaya. If you protect him, he’ll deliver. And who knows? Maybe he’d even surprise us.

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