2016 NFL Mock Draft: Chicago Bears Land QB Carson Wentz

A well-respected draft analyst has placed quarterback Carson Wentz to the Chicago Bears in his latest 2016 NFL Mock Draft. Would this be a smart move by the Bears, or should they be looking in another direction?

The Chicago Bears have performed well in free agency this off season, clearly improving their roster for next season and beyond. The acquisitions of inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman along with defensive lineman Akiem Hicks should greatly improve the Bears’ chances to compete on defense next season.

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Add those three to outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, nose tackle Eddie Goldman, cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Adrian Amos and the Bears are starting to put together an impressive core of players to build around on the defensive side of the ball. If they can just stay healthy on offense, Chicago could be a team worth watching, sooner rather than later.

The Bears will now primarily be looking to focus on the upcoming NFL Draft process. With the 11th overall pick, the Bears have an opportunity to add a significant piece to their core of players. Earlier in the off season, drafting a player in the first round to fit their 3-4 defensive needs would have been a fair bet, but after the impressive additions at linebacker and defensive line in free agency, anything could be on the table.

In his latest 2016 NFL Mock Draft for NFL.com, former league scout Daniel Jeremiah has the Bears taking North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. If this selection does not prove that anything is possible at number 11, I do not know what does.

Personally, I like to pay a little bit closer attention to mock drafts done by Jeremiah. He clearly has a feel for the business, and his past career in the league has undoubtedly earned him some key league sources. A mock draft is never anything to take overly serious, but when Jeremiah specifically mentions a player for a team, we would all be wise to pay attention.

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The Bears have already filled their biggest need on the roster of inside linebacker with two impact players who perfectly fit their system. They also added strong pieces on their defensive front (Hicks) and the offensive line, with the addition of Bobby Massie.

There is still plenty of room for improvement at other positions, but general manager Ryan Pace looks like a true front office stud. The Bears have to feel confident in their ability to find impact players throughout the draft process. With that in mind, landing their franchise quarterback in the first round has to be tempting.

Wentz is physically gifted with a strong arm and impressive mobility in and out of the pocket. He is a natural-born leader on and off of the field, and had a ton of success in college. However, his accuracy is spotty at times, and there are legitimate questions about his ability to make strong decisions. Plus, coming from a small school, lack of competition is always going to be a concern.

The questions surrounding Wentz are legit, but he certainly looks the part of an NFL quarterback (standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 223 pounds), and has the raw skill-set to back it up. He undoubtedly has strong franchise quarterback potential at the next level, but is he really the best option for Chicago?

With the top tier-defensive ends (Joey Bosa and DeForest Buckner), franchise left tackles (Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley) and star defensive backs (Jalen Ramsey and Vernon Hargreaves) all off of the board in Jeremiah’s mock draft, I like the idea of the Bears swinging for the fences on Wentz.

All of the players mentioned above would be fantastic additions to the Bears’ roster, but they are the most talented players in the draft class and are unlikely to be available at number 11. With what the Bears had on the board in this 2016 NFL Mock Draft, I personally like the selection of Wentz. Big and athletic defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins or Andrew Billings would be enticing, but it is hard to pass up an opportunity at a franchise signal caller.

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Wentz still has some legitimate development needed at the next level, and would undoubtedly benefit in sitting for a season. With Jay Cutler already on the roster, this makes Wentz an even better fit for Chicago. Selecting Wentz may make for some awkward moments in the QB room next season, but Cutler is a capable starter who the Bears can trust to go out there as they sit Wentz for a season.

After the 2016 season, the Bears can legitimately get out of Cutler’s contract if that is what they wish to do. With only $2 million in dead cap compared to a $16 million cap hit for 2017 (according to Spotrac), playing Cutler for one more season, and then cutting ties is the best plan of attack for Chicago. Having a capable quarterback ready to go for the 2017 season is the best case scenario at the position.

Selecting Wentz does not put the Bears in the best situation to win in 2016. If that is their only goal, they should stock up their defensive front by adding Billings or Rankins. However, Wentz has the ability to lead the Bears’ franchise in to 2017 and beyond.

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With an emerging roster surrounding him, Wentz would be in a great position to succeed in Chicago. I like Jeremiah’s thinking here, if Wentz is available at No. 11, the Chicago Bears should strongly consider making him the selection.