The Chicago Bears are entering the draft in 2014 with a host of options with their top pick and they could go with a quarterback at some point in Aaron Murray, Jordan Lynch or AJ McCarron is Josh McCown leaves as a free agent, while the team could also trade their pick to get more in return if Julius Peppers, Devin Hester and Charles Tillman are gone.
The Bears just missed the playoffs last season after losing to the Packers and in the first season under Marc Trestman, the offense took a big step forward, while the defense took a big step back. The team ranked fifth in passing yards per game and they were very productive overall, while the defense ranked last in rushing yards allowed per game and the pass defense was no great shakes either.
The Bears have a number of needs heading into the draft and the offseason and with their cap the way it is after the Jay Cutler contract, there are some tough decisions to make. According to ESPN.com, the team needs to focus on the defense in the draft and also could use to take a younger quarterback to develop behind Cutler, as Josh McCown could be leaving after the solid season he had in 2013. Even if McCown stays, taking a quarterback is a fine idea, as the team has not done that the past few years and with the injury issues to Cutler, having an insurance policy that isn't past his 30's isn't a bad idea.
On top of that, the team has names like Tim Jennings, Devin Hester and Charles Tillman coming off the books and Julius Peppers could end up on the chopping block as well with his salary. ESPN.com writes that the team could look at a QB in this draft, as the position is deep with names past Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles, as Aaron Murray, Jordan Lynch, AJ McCarron and Zach Mettenberger could be options. The report from ESPN.com writes that Josh McCown and Jordan Palmer are free agents for the team and instead of bringing back those names, the team could look for a legit backup to develop, as Cutler has missed nearly one sixth of the teams games over the past 64 on the schedule.
Players like Murray and Mettenberger could be options after they were injured last season, while a home town boy like Lynch could be perfect for a Trestman offense. Lynch is a dynamic player and he ended up with 6,209 passing yards and 51 touchdown passes in college and his speed could be a huge boost for the offense, even as a backup. Peppers is likely gone since he is a $18.183 million cap hit in 2014 and that means the draft could have a defensive ring to it, including players on the line and at cornerback. According to ESPN.com, GM Phil Emery is also looking to possibly trade the first round pick of the Bears at number 14 overall and in a draft like this, that could net a nice haul.