4. Mitch Trubisky, QB
Currently on his second stint with the Buffalo Bills, many have argued that the Chicago Bears gave up on this college prospect too early.
His final year at the University of North Carolina was his best. In 2016, he threw for more than 3,700 yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. Trubisky earned Third-Team All-ACC honors that season.
That was one of the many accolades from the quarterback that promtped the Bears to trade up in the draft. Trubisky's name was the second one called in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Season | Games | Pass % | Pass Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 12 | 59.4 | 2,193 | 7 | 7 |
2018 | 14 | 66.6 | 3,223 | 24 | 12 |
2019 | 15 | 63.0 | 3,138 | 17 | 10 |
2020 | 9 | 67.0 | 2,055 | 16 | 8 |
With just one win in the team's first four games in 2017, Trubisky became the starter in Week 5. His debut was in a nail-biter on Monday Night Football against the Vikings. The new starting hurler recorded 128 passing yards including a 20-yard touchdown to Zach Miller.
Despite Chicago making the playoffs in two of the four seasons with Trubisky as the starter, the Bears elected to move on from him following the 2020 NFL season.
As the former University of North Carolina Tar Heel is not the only quarterback on the list, he certainly isn't the last. Players like Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson weren't taken by Chicago ahead of Trubisky.
While the coaching staff at the time was more intrigued to let one of the quarterback prospects take over in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trubisky was shown the door and not offered a return despite his many successes.