The Chicago Bears are the only team in the NFL that’s never had a 4,000-yard passer, which is such a bad stat that it’s actually impressive. In today’s era of wide-open passing attacks across the league, a team like the Bears has to actually work hard to be so consistently bad on offense.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, GM Ryan Pace has prioritized landing a quarterback who can finally eclipse the 4K number for Chicago.
“Make no mistake, Chicago has scoured the Earth the last few weeks looking for their quarterback options,” Fowler said. “They’re looking at everything: trade, free agency, draft. So at the end, it could result in a ‘gun-for-hire,’ so to speak, with a Ryan Fitzpatrick or an Andy Dalton. Somebody they know is not a long-term answer but can be a bridge to get them through another year.
“Really, the goal in Chicago is simple: get their first 4,000-yard passer in franchise history, however they have to do it.”
The goal is great, and, hopefully, Bears fans will finally know what it’s like to have a quarterback who can lead an exciting offense that puts up lots of passing yards and points.
But, Dalton? Fitzpatrick? No thanks.
The expectations among Bears fans have been set much higher, as in, Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson. Anything less would feel like a disappointment, even if those expectations are a tad unrealistic.
If Chicago can’t land Wilson or Watson, the next-best option who’s capable of putting up yards in bunches is Jameis Winston.
It could be worse, right?