Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
I know that part of the deal to trade up to the second pick to get Mitch Trubisky cost the Bears a draft pick next year. In trading down in the second round, I thought a pick was gained next year. Is that correct, and if so, how many picks do the Bears have in the 2018 draft?
Rob A.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
You are correct on both counts; the Bears traded a 2018 third-round pick as part of the package to move up to take quarterback Mitch Trubisky with the second pick in the draft. And they received a 2018 fourth-round selection in moving down in the second round before choosing tight end Adam Shaheen. So that leaves the Bears with a total of seven picks in next year's draft—one in Rounds 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, none in Round 3 and two in Round 4.
I know the Bears have said that Mitch Trubisky will spend the year being groomed behind Mike Glennon. But I was wondering how many times a Bears quarterback has started all 16 games in a season. It seems like they have played two or more quarterbacks every season for a while.
Pete L.
Wheaton, Illinois
A Bears quarterback has started all 16 games only twice in the last 21 seasons. Rex Grossman accomplished the feat in 2006 when the Bears reached the Super Bowl and Jay Cutler matched the achievement in his first year with the team in 2009. In 13 of those seasons, the backup made at least three starts. And in seven of those years, at least three different quarterbacks started games.
I've recently seen some available wide receivers and cornerbacks. Are the Bears considering any of them? For example, Victor Cruz could be a deep threat and a complementary player for Markus Wheaton.
Mark S.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace is always looking to upgrade the roster across the board, but I don't see him specifically targeting those positions in particular because he addressed them in free agency by signing receivers Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson and cornerbacks Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper, B.W. Webb, Johnthan Banks and Bryce Callahan. In terms of Victor Cruz, he's going to turn 31 this season and Pace has generally added free agents who are 27 or 28 and considered ascending players instead of veterans on the back-nine of their careers. And while Cruz had a nice bounce-back year in 2016, he had missed the previous two seasons with a serious knee injury.
