The Chicago Bears are set to bring in top quarterback prospect Connor Cook as he looks to find his NFL home. Michigan State's Cook has not been impressive in the pre-draft process, however he is one of the better quarterbacks in the draft, and after Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, and Paxton Lynch you could argue that he is the best.
The biggest knock on Cook comes from very real character concerns that caused him not to earn a captain's C in college. Cook's teammates were also not very supportive of him as he constantly thought of himself as above the rest of the team. Cook's character concerns are very similar to those of another current professional quarterback, Jay Cutler.
Cutler has been lambasted in the media for appearing to "not care" about the Bears' woes during the last few regular seasons. He has also been blasted for his accuracy as he constantly overthrows or misses his receivers earlier on during the season. Cutler recorded 311 completions out of 483 passing attempts, completed 64.4 percent of his passes, amassed 3,659 passing yards, had a 21-to-11 touchdown to interception ratio, and had a quarterback rating of 92.3.
This is pretty good for a player who has been roasted in the media for a couple of seasons; in fact in terms of quarterback rating, this is the best Cutler has ever played. Still, the Bears thought that Cook was worth a look as they attempt to find some consistency with their offense. The Bears have struggled with Cutler under center, and even with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery healthy they could not seem to find a consistent offensive rhythm.
The Bears could use a quality pass rusher to help their defense regain its identity. With the 11th overall pick Chicago might not be in the best place to select the best pass rusher. The Bears also have plenty of other needs including cornerback and along both the offensive and defensive lines.
If the Bears are going to compete in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers they must continue to build up both sides of the ball. Selecting Cook would be unexpected, but finding some insurance for Cutler in the second or third round could be worth the risk.
