The Bears’ quarterback hunt didn’t end with the splash that some fans were hoping for. When their push for Russell Wilson went nowhere, they pivoted to longtime Bengals starter Andy Dalton, who just finished a so-so year as the Cowboys’ fill-in QB. For now, GM Ryan Pace plans to build the offense around the 33-year-old. 
“With Dalton, the things we like as you look at it, obviously his experience — he’s a nine-year starter, he’s been to three Pro Bowls, a lot of leadership with Dalton, decision making, his decision making, he’s won a lot of games in this league,” Pace said (via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com).
Still, with Dalton backstopped by 32-year-old Nick Foles, the Bears need to think beyond 2021. They currently hold the No. 20 overall pick, which takes them out of the mix for this year’s elite prospects. In theory, they could explore trades for the Jets’ Sam Darnold, or the 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo, but they already seem set on experienced signal callers. So, where do the Bears go from here?
Over the weekend, Pace and head coach Matt Nagy discussed their decision to sign Dalton and their mindset heading into the draft.
Pace on Dalton’s fit:
“Andy’s been a durable player. I think that is something that is understated. And I think, really, Andy fits our style of offense. When you go through it with our scouts and coaches, he can handle the drop-back game, he can handle the RPOs, the play actions, the movements. And we just felt, as we went through those free-agent quarterbacks, he’s one of the more complete quarterbacks that we evaluated in free agency, and we’re excited to have him.”
Nagy on the draft’s QB depth:
“As everybody knows, we’ve been to a few pro days with some of these quarterbacks and it definitely helps, but there is only so many of those you can do and see. What’s fair is every other team is doing the same thing. Ryan and I are super excited about going through that evaluation process together and how we do it. It’s a challenge, but we look forward to it. There are a lot of good quarterbacks in this draft class.”
Nagy on the QB evaluation process:
“It is more difficult because you just don’t have the luxury of being at the combine and seeing these guys throw and see the ball come out of their hands and their footwork. You get to see every one of those guys from the top guy to the bottom guy. Right now you just don’t have the luxury of doing that.”
Draft Guard RT from USC
Draft Kyle Trask
Don’t trade all the picks
Message to a longtime Bears fan, now all grown up:
“We’re trying to get Russell Wilson!”
“Well, we were able to get Andy Dalton.”
Message to same longtime Bears fan when he was a kid:
“We’re gonna get you a new Cadillac for graduation!”
“Well, we were able to get a used Pinto.”
I had a Ford Pinto, 0-60 in 25 seconds.
Actually maybe closer to 35 seconds.
Terrifying on the entry ramp to an expressway.
I still don’t understand how Dalton could earn 3m in Dallas, not play well and then get a pay raise from the Bears. Makes no sense to me because I doubt anyone else was giving him a starting job.
Fair point
If this is how Nagy really feels then he may be the stupidest Coach in the history of football.
As a Bears fan…. he is
Clown Coach
The bears are just a dumpster fire that gets the dumpster repainted every once in awhile, they are goin to be laughably bad again and our owners will say they are proud of how we played after a 6 game losing streak again
Da Bears will need a third plus 30 marginal QB to complete their winning trifecta so perhaps we will see Brian Hoyer back in Chicago.
I cannot see how any true Bears fan can believe some of the trash that comes out of this mans mouth. I mean, the guy we just got rid of had better numbers than Dalton, and actual mobility if needed.
The Bears are owned by a 98 year old woman, Virginia McCaskey, who by all accounts is a delightful sweet person. That said, it is not hard to see why they have no direction as an organization. Bears fans can only sit tight and hope for a Rocky Wirtz type of renaissance after the inevitable ownership turnover to come. The best possible outcome would be a sale of the team due to Illionis inheritance taxes which are some of the highest in the nation.
The owner should be in the background. Virginia has nothing to do with the football team. Her son does.
Nagy is just saying the right things I don’t believe he has any pull in Halas Hall Another Year By the waste side cause Pace doesn’t have a clue
As a Packer fan, I love what duh Nears did this off-season almost as much as when they signed Cutler.
The Cutler Card has been played.
“Andy fits our style of offense.” What’s that, can’t score? Can’t throw the ball more than 10 yards down the field? Both?
Hey Packer fan, do you think you’ll live long enough to see the Packers in a Super Bowl. Every year they miss with Rodgers they get farther away.
Based on last years epic choke I doubt he will.