Chicago Bears 2023 NFL Draft Primer: Quarterback

The Chicago Bears kick off their 2023 NFL Draft with the No. 9 pick in the first round, assuming they keep the selection. There’s a reasonable chance GM Ryan Poles will trade down to acquire more draft capital, but for now, we’ll start this Bears draft primer with the picks as they currently stand.

The Chicago Bears’ list of roster needs is a long one. Offensive tackle and a 3-tech defensive lineman rank near the top as the 2023 draft closes in. Cornerback and edge rusher are strong first-round candidates too. Offensive skill positions like wide receiver and running back will likely be addressed on Day 2 or later.

One position that won’t receive much attention on draft weekend is quarterback. Justin Fields is entering his third season and is firmly entrenched as the Chicago Bears franchise player. But that doesn’t mean Poles will (nor should) ignore the position altogether.

2023 NFL Draft rich with 1st-round QBs

Four potential first-round quarterbacks highlight the 2023 NFL Draft. There’s a good chance the first three picks in Round 1 will be quarterbacks: Bryce Young (Alabama), CJ Stround (Ohio State), and Anthony Richardson (Florida). Kentucky’s Will Levis won’t wait long to hear his name called, either.

Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker has received some late first-round buzz, but I’d bet he is a Day-2 pick. Hooker’s advanced age and 2022 knee injury will push him slightly down the board. In fact, he’s a strong candidate to be this year’s biggest faller.

The drop-off at quarterback after Hooker is steep. We could go several rounds deep into Day 3 before the sixth quarterback is selected. And it’s within this cluster of quarterback prospects that the Chicago Bears can find a developmental QB3.

First, let’s take a look at the Bears’ likely quarterback depth chart next season. Fields is the unquestioned starter. The likely backup is PJ Walker, who Chicago signed to a two-year, $4.1 million contract in free agency. Walker’s contract isn’t a bank-buster, but it’s big enough to presume he’s a lock to be QB2. For now, Nathan Peterman is a placeholder at QB3 and is the quarterback most vulnerable to being replaced by a rookie.

As for who that rookie might be? Here are the quarterbacks ranked outside the top-100 prospects who are likely to fall into the middle to end of Day 3:

2023 NFL Draft mid-to-late round QB prospects:

Tanner McKee (Stanford)
Jaren Hall (BYU)
Aidan O’Connell (Purdue)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA)
Clayton Tune (Houston)
Jake Haener (Fresno State)
Stetson Bennett IV (Georgia)
Malik Cunningham (Louisville)
Max Duggan (TCU)
Tyson Bagent (Sheperd)

None of the players from this list move the needle much, but neither did Brock Purdy in the 2022 draft. We know how that ended up for the San Francisco 49ers.

If there’s any quarterback I’d roll the dice on with a late Day-3 pick, it’s Thompson-Robinson.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a good fit for Chicago Bears

At 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, Thompson-Robinson possesses a dual-threat skill set that will fit well in the Chicago Bears quarterbacks room. In the event of a catastrophic series of injuries to Fields and Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s ability to make plays with his legs early in his career will help his chances to be effective if called into action.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote about Thompson-Robinson in his scouting report:

“Five-year starter with below-average size, above-average mobility and a recent history of improvement at the position. Thompson-Robinson played in a favorable scheme for quarterbacks, but he also improved as a field-reader over time. While he can extend plays and create opportunities for himself outside of the pocket, he’s at his best when he’s throwing on time and utilizing possession throws as his base. He has lapses in vision and judgment against zone and when pressured, so he must cut down on ill-advised throws. Thompson-Robinson has the potential to find a home as a QB3 with a QB2 ceiling.”

Some Chicago Bears fans will say that using a draft pick — any draft pick — on a quarterback is wasteful. I disagree. If a player like Thompson-Robinson develops and flashes upside in the preseason, the Bears can flip him into future (better) draft assets. It’s a strategy good teams tend to follow, and it’s one Poles should utilize in the 2023 NFL Draft.