If there’s one draft that Bears fans would give anything to redo, it’s the 2017 NFL Draft. It’s not the entire draft they’d like to redo — nabbing former All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson in the fourth round was one of general manager Ryan Pace’s best moves.
But it’s one pick in particular.
It wasn’t enough knowing the Bears traded a handful of draft picks just to move up on spot to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky No. 2 overall. But knowing that Chicago passed on MVP Patrick Mahomes and rising star Deshaun Watson, it’s enough to make anyone weep.
And Bears fans will be reminded about it through the duration of both Mahomes and Watson’s NFL careers.
Knowing what he knows now, you figure Pace would certainly do things differently if given another chance. But second chances aren’t awarded. Only in draft re-dos that feel more painful than satisfying.
Bleacher Report conduced a 2017 NFL Draft do-over, but unfortunately the Bears still don’t land a star quarterback. If the Bears were to stay firm at pick No. 3, theoretically Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson would’ve been the top two picks off the board.
So instead of the two best offensive players, Bleacher Report has the Bears targeting pass rush with Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt.
Knowing now that it was a mistake to use a 2016 first-round pick on Leonard Floyd, and knowing how injurious Khalil Mack’s contract is, T.J. Watt would be perfect in this spot. He’d still be extremely cheap in comparison to Mack (whom they acquired a year later), and he’s coming off an All-Pro season in which he earned 10 Defensive Player of the Year votes at the age of 25.
With Mahomes and Watson off the board in this scenario, it makes sense for the Bears to target a defensive stud. And in his three seasons in the league, Watt has already garnered two Pro Bowl nods and first-team All-Pro honors. Just imagine this Bears pass rush with Khalil Mack and Watt.
It’s hard to imagine having to live through an entire season quarterbacked by Mike Glennon, but Trubisky just hasn’t done enough to prove he was worthy of being drafted in the first round.
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