Chicago Bears: Two controversial 2020 NFL Draft prospects to consider
By Ryan Heckman
Jalen Hurts, Quarterback, Oklahoma
I will die on this hill if I have to, because I love Jalen Hurts as a prospect for the Bears. Whether or not the Bears exercise Mitchell Trubisky‘s fifth year option, they need to bring in another guy to compete and put a little pressure on him in 2020.
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Hurts is a fantastic option — I don’t care what anybody says.
Look, let’s get the obvious out of the way. The Bears need offensive linemen and a tight end. I understand. But, again, you take talent over need — every single time.
People knock Hurts for various reasons. Whether it’s occasionally locking onto his no. 1 receiver or letting the ball sail sometimes, Hurts has things to improve. But, the quarterback position is a position that, no matter what, teams are taking a risk on coming out of college. It’s a very, very tough position to judge in terms of making the transition.
Plenty of people have been wrong before. But, this Hurts situation feels a lot to me like DeShaun Watson a few years back.
Coming out of Clemson, Watson had his critics. There were people who didn’t believe he could make the transition for various reasons. But, the one constant remained — Watson was a winner, and that couldn’t be denied.
Hurts is a winner, and he’s a guy who responds extremely well to adversity. Whether it was losing his job at Alabama or turning the ball over at Oklahoma on a specific play, Hurts has always responded just like you’d want him to.
This kid has a short memory. If he makes a mistake, you’ll notice that almost immediately he will come back on the next drive with a chip on his shoulder. He’s got something to prove at all times.
A couple of excerpts from The Draft Network‘s scouting report on Hurts:
"“Would like to know where he hides the eyes in the back of his head — instincts within the pocket are A1 and love the way he slides or flushes through open gaps to escape rushers.” “Will kill you with his legs if you leave him in man and don’t contain rush him. QB power and dive plays are very much on the table for teams who want to implement QB run drill. Would be well weaponized in offensive with a lot of roll outs, RPO and zone read. ” “No one around the facility had a negative word to say about him and his week-to-week preparation stayed the same despite the circumstances. Amid all the speculation of his future and what he could do, he managed to stay put and execute during his opportunities on the field.” “Poise: Smooth as the other side of the pillow.”"
I have already gotten completely battered and bruised online for my Hurts affection, and that’s fine. But, I am convinced this kid is a heck of a football player. I watched a ton of him this season, and I think he would be what the Bears had hoped for in the 2017 NFL Draft had they ended up with a guy like Watson.
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If Hurts falls to the second round, just as many are predicting right now, the Bears have to jump on him. He could be a franchise-changing type of player for a team like Chicago.