The Chicago Bears can’t afford to pass on QB Anthony Gordon
Why he’s such a good fit
Look, it’s no secret we’ve been pounding the table for Anthony Gordon since October, mainly because there is so much to like about his game. However, this is not meant to be a deep dive into his skill set, as we previously provided an in-depth look at Gordon with the help of former Washington State quarterback, Alex Brink.
Instead, we will focus on a few of the traits we feel make him such a great fit with what the Bears need and why he is an absolute must draft prospect this April.
Accuracy
It’s one thing to just look at statistics, which are impressive for Gordon. He led the NCAA in completions (493) and attempts (689), which was good for a 71.6 percent completion rate. He was second in passing yards (5,579) and second in passing touchdowns (48).
However, numbers don’t tell the full story and can be misleading without context. While some may point to Mike Leach‘s air raid system as the primary driver for those video game statistics, doing so would be naive and reveal a lack of appreciation for just how accurate Gordon is.
He routinely puts the ball in tight windows or on his receivers in stride, with a lightning-quick release. Scouts like to use the phrase “keyhole throws” and Gordon delivers them in droves. This type of accuracy is essential to a Matt Nagy offense which runs a variation of the West Coast scheme.
Gordon can also throw from a number of arm angles, something he believes was influenced by his baseball playing days (drafted by the New York Mets out of high school) but does not lose his accuracy when doing so — which is most impressive.
Anticipation
Another desirable trait for a “Matt Nagy” quarterback is anticipation. Gordon has an innate ability to throw his receivers open and deliver the ball on time. His knack for recognizing and processing his wide receiver’s leverage on the defender, and delivering a strike is uncanny. In an offense like Nagy’s which is predicated on timing and accuracy, being able to anticipate a throw rather than waiting to see an open receiver, is paramount, and that’s precisely what he does.
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Instincts
One critical, but perhaps underappreciated requirement of playing the quarterback position is good instincts. Things often do not go according to plan on every snap, and any number of components of a particular play can breakdown. Yet a quarterback with good instincts, and the ability to improvise and create something despite that, is invaluable. Gordon demonstrated that ability time and time again this season. If the Bears are looking for a player who has the ability to make plays off-script, or as Jim Nagy, Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl described as having “some sandlot to him” then Gordon is the guy.
Bottom Line
Gordon has a variety of strengths and a diverse skill set that makes him an attractive prospect for the Bears. However, his accuracy, anticipation, and instincts are tailor-made for Nagy’s offense and he is simply too good a prospect for them to pass up.
We discussed many of these traits that make him one of the top quarterback prospects in this draft when we had a chance to catch up with him recently as he was preparing for the Senior Bowl.