Quarterback
The Chicago Bears feel they finally found their franchise quarterback. Poles has Williams, who many feel is a generational talent. While he may fulfill those expectations, the Bears have to be prepared in case he struggles or suffers an injury.
To prove that point, look no further than last season. The New York Jets traded for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They had high hopes of not only a playoff run but also a Super Bowl run. They were also media darlings and appeared on Hard Knocks.
All of New York’s hopes finished four snaps into the season when Rodgers suffered an Achilles tear and missed the rest of the season. The Jets found out that they had no backup plan. They struggled through the season and finished with a 7-10 season.
The Bears have to avoid that. So far, however, they have Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien as the backups. Bagent is not someone the team could depend on long-term. If Williams suffers a long-term injury, Bagent doesn’t have the tools to be a big replacement.
While Rypien knows offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s system, it doesn’t mean he runs it well. In two games last season (one start) he completed just 47.4 percent of his passes. Additionally, he had 5 interceptions and just 2 touchdowns in his last two seasons.
ESPN writer Aaron Schatz wrote (paid subscription) about the backup quarterback spot being a big need for the Bears.
Caleb Williams is the No. 1 pick and has huge potential. He better live up to it — and stay healthy — because the Bears don’t have much else to go to if Williams can’t play. Tyson Bagent, last year’s backup, started four games but played essentially at the replacement level. Brett Rypien was awful in his one start for the Rams last season (130 passing yards and an interception) and wasn’t very good in three years for the Broncos before that.
Ryan Tannehill and Brian Hoyer are still available. They could be solid backups and help if they are needed for an extended time. No, they won’t be like Williams. However, they are better options. If Tannehill can embrace a mentor role he could be great for Williams’ development. He has been through the wars and had both successes and struggles.
Tannehill knows the path Williams is embarking on. He could really be helpful to Williams and also help the Chicago Bears win some games.
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