We’re barely two days removed from the 2020 NFL Draft — and five months, presumably, from the start of the 2020 NFL season — but early mock drafts for 2021 are popping up all over the place.
Obviously it’s premature, but when you’re on a draft hangover, perhaps some feel it’s best to treat it with an early peek into what awaits us in 2021.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller projects the Bears will be drafting 13th overall — which doesn’t bode well for 2020 — where they land Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
Mitchell Trubisky is likely on his way out of town after his rookie contract expires following the 2020 season, and there’s no reason to trust Nick Foles as the long-term starting option. The Bears could be drafting a second first-rounder at quarterback in 2021 if the current regime gets another chance to find a signal-caller.
Fields had an impressive breakout campaign in 2019 with 41 passing touchdowns and only three interceptions while adding 484 yards on the ground with 10 more touchdowns. He could propel himself even higher up the board if he builds upon the traits he showed in his first year starting. For the Bears, an upgrade in terms of athleticism and arm strength is much needed.
No one knows what the Bears quarterback situation will look like this time next year ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. Whether Mitchell Trubisky pulls off a miracle and salvages his career in Chicago or Nick Foles becomes the Bears quarterback of the short-term future or whether they turn to a young quarterback in the draft remains to be seen.
The common theme with these way-too-early mock drafts is that the Bears are doomed to repeat another disappointing season. When analysts are projecting you to draft within the top-15 picks, it says a lot about their confidence — or lack thereof — in your team.
Not that projections mean a darn thing before teams take the field. Heck, we saw that with the Bears last season, when a lot of people had them pegged to be contenders in the NFC.
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