Picking Mariota as developmental QB makes sense for Bears

What if Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is still available when the Bears are on the clock with the seventh overall pick on April 30?

Incumbent quarterback Jay Cutler is already on the books for $15.5 million in base salary next season. But barring a significant improvement over last season, the 2015 campaign will be his final year in Chicago.

Neither Jimmy Clausen nor David Fales projects as the Bears' quarterback of the future, so they have to find and develop Cutler's successor - and sooner would be better than later.

The consensus opinion of scouts is that Mariota will be a franchise quarterback in the NFL, but that it may take some time for him to adjust to the pro game. At Oregon, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Mariota was usually asked to make simplified reads, and he was often throwing to wide receivers who enjoyed a bigger coverage cushion than is typical for NFL pass catchers. He'll need time to become better at reading defenses and working through his progressions, but one of the many things scouts love about Mariota is his coachability.

With Cutler entrenched for another year, the Bears offer the ideal situation for Mariota to learn without being force fed.

"If Mariota were there as a developmental quarterback, knowing you've got Cutler for this year, it would certainly make sense from that standpoint," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "Because Mariota needs time, and he would be afforded that opportunity with the Bears."

There's a very good chance Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston will be taken before the Bears' first pick, but that doesn't mean general manager Ryan Pace won't add a developmental quarterback later in the draft. The problem is the QB talent level plummets after the top two.

But Pace is on record as saying he believes in drafting quarterbacks much more frequently than the Bears have done in recent years. In the past nine drafts the Bears drafted just two quarterbacks, both in the sixth round - Fales last year and Dan LeFevour in 2010. They haven't selected a quarterback earlier than the fourth round since 2003, when they took Rex Grossman in the first round. In the three years prior to that, the Bears didn't use any of their 24 picks on a quarterback.

If they address quarterback on Day 2 of the draft (rounds 2 and 3), the Bears will be picking from a flawed group. But Colorado State's Garrett Grayson possesses some interesting qualities, including the potential to contribute much sooner than many of the "system" quarterbacks who are available.

Last season he completed 32 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions, threw for 4,006 yards and completed 64.3 percent of his 420 passes playing in a pro-style offense.

"Grayson had a heck of a year," Kiper said. "He's pro style all the way. He's an under-center guy, can take snaps, can go 3- 5- 7-step drops. He can come in and help you.

"He doesn't have the elite arm, but he's got a good enough arm, enough mobility. He's a tremendously competitive football player. I love the way that when they lose, it bothers him."

If the Bears take a quarterback on the third day, in rounds 4-7, they'd be looking at a project who would need to be developed for the future. But UCLA's Brett Hundley could be worth a gamble based on athleticism alone.

At 6-feet-3, 226 pounds, Hundley posted some NFL Scouting Combine numbers that would make running backs envious.

His 3.98-second 20-yard shuttle was better than all the quarterbacks and all but one running back, Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah. Only four cornerbacks were faster. Among quarterbacks, Hundley's 6.93 three-cone clocking was bettered only by Mariota (6.87) and Petty (6.91) among quarterbacks. Only five running backs were faster. Hundley also had a 36-inch vertical and ran a 4.63 40.

Hundley gets knocked for playing in a simple, one-read system and throwing mostly short passes - many of them behind the line of scrimmage, out of the shotgun. Those criticisms are justified and Hundley will have a long road to becoming an NFL quarterback, but he cautions against writing him off.

"One thing I do every day is work hard," he said. "If you tell me I can't do something, I'm going to prove you wrong and do it."

Next: Cornerbacks

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NFL Draft primer: quarterbacks

Name, school Ht. Wt. 40

Jameis Winston, Florida State 6-4 231 4.97

Off-field concerns trumped by multi-talented, NFL-ready gamer.

Marcus Mariota, Oregon 6-4 222 4.52

Great athlete with high character but needs time to adapt to NFL.

Bryce Petty, Baylor 6-3 230 4.87

Adjustment to NFL will take time after playing in one-read system.

Garrett Grayson, Colorado State 6-2 213 4.90

Marginal skill set, but intangibles and touch on deep ball impress.

Brett Hundley, UCLA 6-3 226 4.63

Great athlete but a shotgun, system QB who will be a major project.

Shane Carden, East Carolina 6-2 218 4.94

Tools don't translate to NFL starter but intangibles give him a shot.

Sean Mannion, Oregon State 6-6 229 5.14

4-year starter in pro-style system; limited arm strength, athleticism

Brandon Bridge, South Alabama 6-4 229 4.72

Elite arm with live fastball but horrible mechanics and accuracy.

Bryan Bennett, SE Louisiana 6-2 211 4.81

Good athlete with mediocre accuracy and decision-making.

Connor Halliday, Washington State 6-3 196 4.90

Had huge stats in pass-happy shotgun offense; marginal NFL skills.