5 bold predictions for Chicago Bears in 2021

3. Andy Dalton won’t finish the season as a starter

Dalton can give the Bears more than they got from Trubisky last year, but he’s still nothing more than a placeholder at the quarterback position. The Bears need to find a long-term solution as soon as possible.

Nagy might start the year with Dalton under center, but he’s not going to finish the campaign as the starter. The Bears are a strong candidate to move up in the draft to nab their signal-caller of the future. That player might not be ready to start Week 1, but it’s only a matter of time before he knocks Dalton off his perch.

Even if Chicago doesn’t use a Round 1 selection on a quarterback, there’s a chance they can find a developmental prospect with more upside later in the draft. Someone like Kyle Trask or even Jamie Newman could provide Nagy with a more dynamic player to develop.

That might seem contrary to the Bears’ clear need to maximize their 2021 win total, but Chicago’s ownership will also want to see a clear plan for the future. Dalton doesn’t qualify. That’s why he will finish the year holding a clip board on the Bears’ sideline.