The Chicago Bears search for a quarterback might land on a quarterback they nearly drafted in 2019.
Gardner Minshew waited a long time for his name to be called during the 2019 NFL draft. Very long. Jacksonville after long last made Minshew the 178th overall pick in the 6th round. It turned out to be worth the wait for Minshew as injury fate would have it.
Minshew was thrown into the fire immediately completing 22-25 passes in week 1 when free-agent signee Nick Foles suffered a broken left clavicle in his first game as a Jaguar. Minshew went on to have an impressive rookie season throwing 21 TD passes against only six INT’s.
Foles was then traded after the season to Chicago who was looking aggressively for an insurance policy for flailing Mitchell Trubisky. Ironically, Minshew thought he might have ended up in Chicago himself back in 2019.
“At the combine, I had two formal interviews,” Minshew said. “One was the Jaguars, one was the Bears. I loved it meeting with [Matt] Nagy and all those guys. They were awesome. We got to talk some really good ball. For a while, I thought that was going to be a real possibility.”
But the Bears were short on draft picks in 2019. They used their 3rd round selection on running back David Montgomery and their 4th round pick on wide receiver Riley Ridley. They did not have a 5th round pick In the 6th round they had selection 205- 27 picks after Minshew was selected by the Jaguars.
Would the Bears have drafted Minshew in the 6th round or with either of their two 7th round picks? Seems likely they would have, but only Ryan Pace knows that answer.
Minshew compiled 37 TD passes against only 11 interceptions in his two years playing on bad Jacksonville teams. The Jaguars are now set to make Trevor Lawrence number one overall pick in the 2021 draft. Minshew might be happier elsewhere and the Jaguars could use a veteran to help mentor Lawrence.
Meanwhile, the Bears are remaining interested in Carson Wentz but his price tag might be too steep with Indianapolis and others interested. Minshew would cost less and the Bears could offer Foles back to Jacksonville as a veteran backup.
Foles was coveted by Chicago because of his understanding of their system. Pace fell in love with Mitchell Trubisky after meeting him. Minshew said his meeting with the Bears was “awesome.” The Bears like quarterbacks they “know.”
Connect the dots and it seems like Minshew might finally end up in Chicago.