With the Chicago Bears holding the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, it appears highly unlikely they’ll be in a position to select a quality quarterback prospect who possesses the upside required to start as a rookie.
But just because it appears unlikely doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Take the latest mock draft from Sports Illustrated, for example. They have the Bears landing Alabama quarterback Mac Jones in the first round despite Jones enjoying a boost in his draft stock since the completion of the 2020 college football season.
SI has Jones as the fifth quarterback taken in Round 1, with Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Trey Lane all off the board by the fifth pick (the Panthers, in this mock, trade up with the Bengals for No. 5 overall and select Zach Wilson).
Still, it’s hard imagining a scenario where any of the top five quarterbacks actually fall this far. The New England Patriots are desperate for young blood at the position and Jones feels very much like a Bill Belichick guy. The Patriots pick 15th.
There’s also the Washington Football Team, who pick 19th and have a huge void at quarterback. They’ll be in the market for a rookie who can start right away and Jones, excluding Lawrence, is the most pro-ready of this year’s bunch.
If nothing else, this mock draft is an example of how the draft process can be unpredictable. Just because there’s a narrative in February that suggests no quarterbacks will be in play for the Bears in Round 1 doesn’t mean a highly-ranked passer won’t fall in April.