Report: Bears were interested in James Madison QB Ben DiNucci before Cowboys drafted him

For the fifth time in general manager Ryan Pace’s six-year tenure in Chicago, the Bears passed on the opportunity to select a quarterback in the NFL Draft.

Pace’s lone quarterback selection was in 2017 with Mitchell Trubisky, whose fate is murky at best following continued struggles and inconsistency.

Since then, Pace hasn’t made it a need to find a quarterback in the draft, which is surprising this season considering the Bears’ uncertainties at quarterback beyond 2020.

But according to Dallas Morning News Cowboys reporter Michael Gehlken, the Bears were in contact with James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci about an undrafted free agent contract. But the Dallas Cowboys locked up their developmental prospect in the seventh round at pick 231.

QB Ben DiNucci was receiving phone calls from Browns and Bears with undrafted free agent contracts. Cowboys decided not to leave it up to chance, told him they'd draft him in seventh round if available. "When pick No. 231 came up, I was glued to the TV. I was glued to my phone."

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) April 25, 2020

There are still some quarterbacks that went undrafted that the Bears should target, and we’ll see if the Bears decide to bring in a rookie quarterback to develop behind Trubisky and Nick Foles.