ESPN takes shot at Bears for Mitch Trubisky pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
No Chicago Bears fan will ever be alright with how the 2017 NFL Draft panned out. The Bears took the first quarterback of the draft in Mitchell Trubisky, ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshuan Watson.
Mahomes has won an MVP and Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, in addition to three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro nods. While the Houston Texans landed Deshaun Watson who is a three-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in passing in 2020.
And Trubisky is a backup for the Buffalo Bills.
Bears fans know it was a mistake, and it's the burden we all carry.
Fast forward to 2021, and during the NFL Draft kickoff show ESPN aired a feature about drafting quarterbacks.
Wow.
Chicago is used to this though. ESPN routinely forgets the White Sox exist, and Tim Anderson even called them out on it during an ESPN interview.
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And while no one in Chicago will ever claim that draft pick wasn't a colossal misstep, to say it crippled a franchise for years to come is a bit over dramatic.
Yes, the Bears traded away a lot to move up and get Trubisky. He did lead them to 12-4 record, an NFC North title, a Pro Bowl nod (albeit as a replacement for Jared Goff who was playing in the Super Bowl) and was a double-doinked field goal away from a playoff win.
And while it was just one glorious season, the Bears have a 16-16 record in the following two years and made the playoffs last season.
Watson didn't make the playoffs last year.
And the Bears could be just a player away from Super Bowl contention. Albeit, a quarterback away.
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