The Chicago Bears need to target this college quarterback

The Chicago Bears selecting a quarterback from North Carolina with one of the top picks in the NFL Draft.

That is a statement that will likely give Bears fans PTSD as they think back to the 2017 NFL Draft when the Bears traded up one spot to select North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall selection.

Trubisky is now a backup quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and it would seem that the Bears are angling toward selecting a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

While the focus for the 2024 NFL Draft has been on teams tanking for USC’s Caleb Williams, it is North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye that the Bears may want to consider selecting.

Let’s get this out of the way, Maye is not Trubisky. Adam Jahns of The Athletic (Subscription required) scouted Maye this past week and among his takeaways was the difference between the North Carolina quarterback the Bears took in 2017 and the North Carolina quarterback the Bears could take in 2024.

With the Chicago Bears likely headed toward selecting a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, Drake Maye may be the quarterback the team targets.

"So, yes, Maye isn’t Trubisky. He’s a two-year starter for the Tar Heels. He was the ACC Player of the Year in 2022.-The Athletic"

Maye was phenomenal in North Carolina’s victory over Duke this past weekend. Maye completed 28 of 42 passes for 342 yards and a touchdown while also adding two rushing touchdowns in the Tar Heels’ 47-45 victory on Saturday night.

Ever since Williams struggled in a three-interception game against Notre Dame last month, a debate has ignited over whether or not he is truly deserving of the “generational talent” label. Meanwhile, with performances like the one on Saturday night, Maye’s ascension has made it seem as if there will be a legitimate conversation over who will be the first quarterback selected in the NFL Draft next April.