Chicago Bears: Another QB option just became available in the NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears, who may be looking to draft a quarterback this year, just got another option.

In a year where the Chicago Bears might be looking to draft a quarterback, it isn’t ideal that they lack a first-round pick. Of course, the reason for that is the dominant force that goes by the name Khalil Mack, but nevertheless, the fact remains the Bears will not make their first selection until No. 43 overall. They will have another pick at No. 50 overall, and then not again until the fourth round.

Consequently, it is in their best interests for as many quarterbacks to declare for the draft. First, it gives them more potential options if they are targeting one in the second round. Second, it gives other teams selecting ahead of them more options, such that it could push a quarterback into the second round that might not otherwise have been available. In short, the more options the better.

So whether or not the Bears like Jake Fromm, it is good news for them that he declared for the 2020 NFL Draft earlier this afternoon for the reasons mentioned above.

However, there are a number of reasons that they might be interested in making Fromm their selection. Look, I understand there are a number of fans out there who are underwhelmed with Fromm’s performance this year. But consider this — since the end of the 2018 season, Fromm lost his top four receivers. Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley, and Terry Godwin were all selected in last year’s draft, and J.J. Holloman was dismissed before the start of the season.

That is an awful lot of turnover for a quarterback, so some statistical regression was likely inevitable from the numbers he put up last season (2,761 yards, 67.4 percent completion percentage, 30 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions). Nevertheless, his numbers this year weren’t what I would consider ‘bad’ as he still threw for 2,860 yards, completing 60.8 percent of his passes, while tossing 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

Some may consider those pretty pedestrian numbers compared to the video game stats many college quarterbacks are putting up — particularly the ones in the spread or air-raid systems. Don’t forget, Tom Brady put up paltry numbers in college, throwing for 2,217 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Now, I am not comparing Fromm to Brady, and I fully recognize they played in different eras. However, I offer the example simply to suggest that one should not simply look at the ‘stats’ when evaluating a quarterback.

When you look beyond the statistics with Fromm, you see a very steady, cerebral, and reliable quarterback who, while he won’t wow you with his physical gifts, he’s quite good at processing the field and making accurate throws. Those are all skills that are critical in Matt Nagy’s offense.

In any event, whether Fromm is a Bears target come April remains to be seen, but irrespective of that fact, the news that he declared today is good for the Bears.