Will Bears try to find a QB project in the draft?

It would be a mild surprise if the Bears did not draft a developmental quarterback this year that head coach and QB guru Marc Trestman could groom for the future.

With the rebuilding of the defense still a work in progress, don't expect general manager Phil Emery to use an early pick on a quarterback. That said, it wouldn't be a shock to see Emery look for a bargain on the second or third day of the draft.

Jay Cutler is entrenched as the starter with a seven-year, $126 million deal that includes $54 million in guaranteed money for the first three years. But current backup Jordan Palmer will be 30 next month, and he has never started an NFL game. Palmer has thrown just 15 passes since entering the league in 2008, so he's just a placeholder as the backup, not their QB of the future.

The Bears kicked the tires on former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter Josh Freeman early in April, but it's unlikely they'll get a young player with Freeman's experience to sit behind Cutler for what could be a few years.

Developmental projects such as Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas or LSU's Zach Mettenberger are intriguing because of their stature and arm strength. Both may require years of grooming before they're ready to play in the NFL, but the Bears have the luxury of being able to bring a young quarterback along slowly under the guidance of Trestman.