Labeled as a draft bust — the former second overall pick taken ahead of both Patrick Mahomes (10th) and Deshaun Watson (12th) in the 2017 NFL Draft — Mitchell Trubisky would be the first to admit his career has not gone according to plan.
After flaming out with the Chicago Bears, Trubisky opted for a change of scenery this past season, joining the Buffalo Bills on a one-year contract. While accepting a backup gig was, no doubt, a humbling experience for Trubisky, spending a year under Josh Allen’s wing in Buffalo seems to have done the former North Carolina Tar Heel some good.
“Going to Buffalo really opened my eyes,” expressed Trubisky, who will be a free agent for the second time in as many years. “It helped me get back to instinctual football and using my talents rather than overthinking."
As frustrating as his time with the Bears was, a number of NFL executives believe the 27-year-old will have a “real opportunity” to start this upcoming season with the Washington Commanders, New York Giants (coached by his former offensive coordinator in Buffalo, Brian Daboll) and Carolina Panthers all seen as potential fits.
“I could see him going to a situation where he can be a starting option,” an anonymous AFC executive relayed to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “There's certainly enough there where the right offense can accommodate him. The offense in Chicago was pretty rigid and on-script, and I'm not sure it suited him."
All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer, who saw Trubisky work extensively with the Bills’ scout team at practice last season, agrees wholeheartedly with that assessment.
“One thousand percent,” said Poyer when asked if he could see Trubisky starting for a team in 2022. “One of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”
After letting the pressure get to him in Chicago, Trubisky came to an epiphany in Buffalo, scrapping the conservative, almost “robotic” approach that plagued him throughout his Bears tenure.
“I’m in a confident space right now,” said Trubisky, who started 50 games before settling for a one-year, “prove-it” deal during last year’s free agency. “You can’t be afraid to make mistakes.”
Similar to Ryan Tannehill, who has flourished with the Tennessee Titans after struggling with the Miami Dolphins early in his career, Trubisky would be a worthy reclamation projection for teams unable to land an upper-echelon talent like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson this offseason.
“The dude is an athlete. I don’t think people really understand that,” said Allen in praise of Trubisky’s dual-threat skill set. “He’s going to kill it.”
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