CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns passed up on the opportunity to select former Mentor High School standout quarterback Mitchell Trubisky at the top of the 2017 NFL Draft, but he was not on the board long after that, as the Chicago Bears traded up from No. 3 to No. 2 to choose him.
The Browns will get a first-hand look at the type of professional quarterback Trubisky is developing into, as they will travel to Chicago to play the Bears at Soldier Field on Christmas Eve. However, for Trubisky, there will be no extra emotions other than those that come with game day.
“I don't think it will be emotional at all,” Trubisky said in a conference call with the Cleveland media. “I'm an even-keeled player, so I'm not going to get too high, not too low.
“Just another opportunity for me and my team to go out there, do what we do and try to come out with a win. No added pressure. It is not going to be emotional for me. I just want to go out there, do my job and enjoy playing the game of football.”
The Browns chose defensive end Myles Garrett at No. 1 overall, which was not surprising to Trubisky, a native Mentor, Ohio.
“I wasn't sure what the needs were or what they really thought of me as a quarterback,” Trubisky said of the Browns. “I knew that they needed one and they were potentially looking for one, but I didn't really go into it with any expectations. I just prayed that I would end up in the right spot, and I thank God I did. I just love being here in Chicago and the opportunity I have in front of me now.
“I thought anything could happen, and if I was meant to be in Cleveland, they would trade up and come get me, but I don't think they could get back into the No. 2 spot. Chicago was really interested, so they made that move to come get me, and I was very excited about that. You always hear rumors and what could potentially happen, but I didn't really know what was going to happen. I was just waiting for my name to get called, and I was lucky it did.”
Initially, the plan was to work Trubisky in slowly, but when veteran Mike Glennon struggled, the Bears turned over the offense to the rookie.
In 10 games for the Bears (4-10), Trubisky has completed 162 of his 271 attempts (59.8 percent) for 1,822 yards and seven touchdowns against seven interceptions. Trubisky had a long pass of 70 yards, and despite being sacked 25 times for 157 lost yards, he has completed 16 passes of at least 20 yards and three 40-yard throws.
“We are just trying to really get back to a balanced offense, and they trust me now to make decisions with the ball and air it out,” Trubisky said. “Hopefully, we can just continue to stay balanced, establish the run, and then, I can distribute the ball to the playmakers on first, second and third down, just convert third downs and finish more drives with points. I think we have just figured out who we are identity-wise on offense and have progressed a long way since the beginning of the season.”
