What do you guys think about trying to draft a starting QB?

[JABF]

This topic was a mish-mash on the Dabears board.  But with this new group here, I am curious where everyone is on drafting a starting QB.  I'm not trying to get into the Cutler love/hate thread thing.  Forget that.  What about the post-Cutler era?  It's coming.  What do you think is our BEST move here?

1.  Should we try drafting a QB in 2017 regardless of how Jay Cutler performs this season?  

2.  Should we try to instead, bring on a FA instead?  

3.  What about the backup QB situation for 2017?

4.  Should we just kick the can down the street to 2018 and beyond if Jay has a decent year in 2016?

[AlexM]

Im still torn, between getting Jimmy G. or top 3rd pick.... depends on a lot of factors, if a qb we value highly is still there when our number comes im all for drafting a qb next year AND getting Jimmy G. if possible, we will have enough cash

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2016 14:52:08 GMT -6 JABF said:

This topic was a mish-mash on the Dabears board.  But with this new group here, I am curious where everyone is on drafting a starting QB.  I'm not trying to get into the Cutler love/hate thread thing.  Forget that.  What about the post-Cutler era?  It's coming.  What do you think is our BEST move here?

1.  Should we try drafting a QB in 2017 regardless of how Jay Cutler performs this season?  

2.  Should we try to instead, bring on a FA instead?  

3.  What about the backup QB situation for 2017?

4.  Should we just kick the can down the street to 2018 and beyond if Jay has a decent year in 2016?

I am thinking that while the team still needs upgrades, that most critical needs are met and it would be ok to draft one high next year. The other things that might get on the way would be if the pass rush is still not strong and there is a perceived stud there. Others that might pre-empt it are if we lose Jeffrey and management puts a high priority on a top replacement or of course if we go with a high secondary pick rather than FA there.
Of course there is also the question of whether the QB we want will be there. If not, then we go in a different direction. At this point we THINK we know what our needs might be next year but we have not even started the season and do not know who will take the next step or what we do in FA. However, I do think that given the right set of circumstances, they may be ready to pick a QB.
I don't want them to wait until Cutler is either gone or useless. We need him to learn under Cutler for a year or two so the sooner the opportunity presents itself, the better.

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2016 14:52:08 GMT -6 JABF said:

This topic was a mish-mash on the Dabears board.  But with this new group here, I am curious where everyone is on drafting a starting QB.  I'm not trying to get into the Cutler love/hate thread thing.  Forget that.  What about the post-Cutler era?  It's coming.  What do you think is our BEST move here?

1.  Should we try drafting a QB in 2017 regardless of how Jay Cutler performs this season?  

2.  Should we try to instead, bring on a FA instead?  

3.  What about the backup QB situation for 2017?

4.  Should we just kick the can down the street to 2018 and beyond if Jay has a decent year in 2016?

It's a great topic to debate.

If I'm Ryan Pace my approach at the moment and for the near future would be to continue to draft higher picks on a BPA basis filling in as many core positions with my own draftees who've been selected not only for their talent but also for their "fit" as I can.  Since we do need a QB in training if one of those players happens to be a QB I take him in whatever round he's my BPA.

OK, so what's my reasoning and logic behind this.

1) Cutler is improving in his game management skills and he really has a very team friendly contract now based both on the cost and the flexibility to move on from him if absolutely necessary.  I'm still convinced, and I believe Pace and Fox are as well, that we can win consistently with Cutler all the way to a championship.  He was 1/2 of one game away from a SB back in 2010 and he's far better more savvy vet today.

2) Once I've fixed what needs to be fixed at key starting positions on the OL, Edge Rusher, and CB and have young talent developing in the pipeline replacing aging and more costly vets I have far more options available as far as how I get my next franchise QB and get him ready to take over.  I'll have ample cap space to sign a FA if needed or more draft picks I can possibly use to trade for a higher draft pick or a young vet stuck behind a Brady or a Rodgers.

3) So I keep looking and scouting on both the college and the pro level to identify prospects who'll fit into the offensive schemes we run.  If I'm only using mid round picks and rolling the dice I can gamble but if I'm trading away picks to move up or trade for a player like maybe a Jimmy Garoppolo then I can't gamble.  I have to be sure who I'm buying or drafting is at least as good or better than who I have.

So I guess my approach is to kick the can down the road but to remain aware of my options and how I can best use them to get my guy.  We're no longer desperate for a starting QB which puts us many levels above some NFL teams right now.  There's no need to rush the process and make mistakes.  We can better afford to be patient than many teams so we use that to our advantage for now and keep building the offensive and defensive core with talent and depth.  That's where you win championships.

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2016 14:52:08 GMT -6 JABF said:

This topic was a mish-mash on the Dabears board.  But with this new group here, I am curious where everyone is on drafting a starting QB.  I'm not trying to get into the Cutler love/hate thread thing.  Forget that.  What about the post-Cutler era?  It's coming.  What do you think is our BEST move here?

1.  Should we try drafting a QB in 2017 regardless of how Jay Cutler performs this season?  

2.  Should we try to instead, bring on a FA instead?  

3.  What about the backup QB situation for 2017?

4.  Should we just kick the can down the street to 2018 and beyond if Jay has a decent year in 2016?

I am thinking that while the team still needs upgrades, that most critical needs are met and it would be ok to draft one high next year. The other things that might get on the way would be if the pass rush is still not strong and there is a perceived stud there. Others that might pre-empt it are if we lose Jeffrey and management puts a high priority on a top replacement or of course if we go with a high secondary pick rather than FA there.
Of course there is also the question of whether the QB we want will be there. If not, then we go in a different direction. At this point we THINK we know what our needs might be next year but we have not even started the season and do not know who will take the next step or what we do in FA. However, I do think that given the right set of circumstances, they may be ready to pick a QB.
I don't want them to wait until Cutler is either gone or useless. We need him to learn under Cutler for a year or two so the sooner the opportunity presents itself, the better.

[4dabers]

Aug 24, 2016 14:52:08 GMT -6 JABF said:

This topic was a mish-mash on the Dabears board.  But with this new group here, I am curious where everyone is on drafting a starting QB.  I'm not trying to get into the Cutler love/hate thread thing.  Forget that.  What about the post-Cutler era?  It's coming.  What do you think is our BEST move here?

1.  Should we try drafting a QB in 2017 regardless of how Jay Cutler performs this season?  

2.  Should we try to instead, bring on a FA instead?  

3.  What about the backup QB situation for 2017?

4.  Should we just kick the can down the street to 2018 and beyond if Jay has a decent year in 2016?

That wont happen here.  It's a pointless to debate. Unless Houston wants to Make Shit Up.

Whether it's Jimmy G or someone else, I'm in agreement with Mil; I think the best way to go is to try and grab a promising young FA (if available, a big IF) and draft one as high as we can as long as it's not a stupid reach.  Houston's points are also on the money; we think we know what our needs are, but that can change over the course of the season.

Here's the biggest problem and they are kind of obvious:

1.  I'm really not sure there will be QB's of any value in FA to grab even if we are inclined to do so.  It's not like teams let those guys go all the time.  I know Jimmy G. has been mentioned, but I still don't understand how he could even be available.  If he's any good in these first 4 games, the Pats will keep him.  They drafted him to replace Brady who will be 40 next year, so Garropolos grooming will mesh up perfectly with Brady's graceful departure from the game.  If Jimmy doesn't fair well and the Pats ARE willing to let him walk, then why the hell would WE want him.  

2.  The next issue is the QB draft class.  Let me be the first to say that I am NOT a QB scout, nor do I play one on TV, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I've heard from various sources that this crop is even worse than the last.  As a result, I think it's a wait and see thing for this years college QB's.

Bottom line, I don't know where Jay's replacement is going to come from, but I'm all for doing it sooner rather than later.  I am also of the opinion that the excess we have in cap space to carry over till next year may be specifically set aside for this very issue.  If there is a FA QB out there, then we will most definitely end up paying and it's likely that Pace has a better feel about all of that than anything we could dream up.

 

[Deleted]

In assuming the RBC, zone blocking scheme, and other offensive moves suggest an end game for Cutler. The staff is moving pieces into place that lessens the blow in the event of a Cutler injury or departure.

If that's true - and if it's not just ignore this post - the Bears are working themselves into a Denver model (there are other teams doing this AKA Seattle) where the QB is important but not vital to success.

If they can get the team to that spot then they can really be patient with the QB process. The last thing I want to see if Pace sacrifice the teams future for a QB like Jimmy G.

If you read this new board Pace - PLEASE no first round pick trades for a QB. If we do the Cutler thing again I'm might have to start rooting for the Vikings. 😡

[AlexM]

Aug 24, 2016 15:40:02 GMT -6 @belliot said:

In assuming the RBC, zone blocking scheme, and other offensive moves suggest an end game for Cutler. The staff is moving pieces into place that lessens the blow in the event of a Cutler injury or departure.

If that's true - and if it's not just ignore this post - the Bears are working themselves into a Denver model (there are other teams doing this AKA Seattle) where the QB is important but not vital to success.

If they can get the team to that spot then they can really be patient with the QB process. The last thing I want to see if Pace sacrifice the teams future for a QB like Jimmy G.

If you read this new board Pace - PLEASE no first round pick trades for a QB. If we do the Cutler thing again I'm might have to start rooting for the Vikings. 😡

Why Viqueens? Choose something cool like Steelers... or Browns

[Deleted]

Aug 24, 2016 15:40:02 GMT -6 @belliot said:

If you read this new board Pace - PLEASE no first round pick trades for a QB. If we do the Cutler thing again I'm might have to start rooting for the Vikings. 😡

Pace could never get on this board. The process is so secretive that it makes Fox's injury reports look like an open book process.

[dachuckster]

Aug 24, 2016 16:07:40 GMT -6 @bearsinhouston said:

Aug 24, 2016 15:40:02 GMT -6 @belliot said:

If you read this new board Pace - PLEASE no first round pick trades for a QB. If we do the Cutler thing again I'm might have to start rooting for the Vikings. 😡

Pace could never get on this board. The process is so secretive that it makes Fox's injury reports look like an open book process.

Fox might like it.  Except he would insist on more security so no one would ever know hat he says.