Chicago Bears: 3 quarterback solutions for the 2021 season
By JACOB GRANT
North Dakota St. QB Trey Lance
The 2020 college football season has come to a close. Alabama, for the third time since the birth of the playoff, is standing alone at the mountain top as national champions. We can now turn our attention to the most exciting event of the sports calendar: The NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft is so compelling because it brings a glimmer of hope to every NFL franchise. This year is no different with a stacked class, chalk full of franchise caliber quarterbacks.
One name that may have slid back under the radar is sophomore redshirt quarterback Trey Lance. If you recall, Lance had one of the most impressive seasons at the position college football has ever seen.
In 2019, Lance Threw for 2,786 yards, accounted for 42 total TD’s, and threw 0 INT. Yes you read that right, zero interceptions. That combination of arm talent and stellar athleticism, made Lance one of the most intriguing prospects in some time.
I’m sure you are asking yourself, how is this guy not the first or second pick of the entire draft?
As it turns out, Lance is not playing the best competition in the country. Lance is playing at the FCS level of competition at North Dakota St. University, home of the Bison. And while 2019 was so spectacular, Lance looked less than stellar in his one game encore against Central Arkansas.
Lance went 15/30, for 149 yards, 2TD’s, and an INT in that 39-28 victory over the Bears of Central Arkansas. In most cases, Lance would have a chance to bounce back the next week and get right back on track to make his case for one of the best quarterbacks in the draft.
Not in 2020. The Bison only played one game in the fall of 2020 due to Covid-19. The team will look to play a full schedule in the spring of 2021, in which Lance will not be participating.
While Lance will be viewed as the most risky quarterback in this class, that may be what the Bears need. A high upside QB with arm talent that can use his feet to escape pressure and extend plays.
In 2015, it was Pace that said “I think it’s a good idea to add a quarterback every year.” Since then, he has only drafted one quarterback in five drafts. He has a chance to right his wrongs by selecting Lance in this years draft.