Where does Matt Barkley fit in Chicago's 2017 plans?

Is Matt Barkley making a case to be The Man in 2017 or is he simply making a case to be in the mix in 2017 for the Chicago Bears?

The Barkley topic has been a very popular one here at Windy City Gridiron, and why wouldn't it be? He plays the highest profile position on the team and the team has had a history of troubles at the position.

Last week Josh tackled the subject in his article, Matt Barkley is not the answer—and that's okay. Robert touched on it as well with his, It's time for the Bears to make sense of what they have in Matt Barkley. Earlier this month I gave an early spin on the topic as well in my WCG article and podcast, Do you think Matt Barkley can be the Chicago Bears' QB of the future?

Even with Jay Cutler manning the spot since 2009, Chicago's quarterbacking has been a polarizing discussion. The Anti-Jay/Pro-Jay debates, the Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown Fan Clubs were a thing, and we even had a number of fans ready to see the Jimmy Clausen era take off.

In my latest T Formation Conversation Podcast (Subscribe now on iTunes!), I look at some other unconventionally discovered "franchise" quarterbacks. I also wonder why the Bears can't bring Barkley back and draft a guy, then let them sort out who belongs under center on the practice field.