Rumors have flown in every direction since Robert Quinn elected to not attend any of the Chicago Bears’ spring activities. Voluntary minicamps, Organized Team Activities, and mandatory minicamps were all skipped. Clearly, he was sending a message that he desired a possible train out of town. The 32-year-old wants to play for a championship contender. What people didn’t know for sure is whether he’d extend the holdout into training camp itself.
We finally have an answer. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Pro Bowl pass rusher has decided to join the team at Halas Hall. He will participate in camp. It is another welcome piece of news for the Bears’ defense. At one point 24 hours ago, it felt like they might not have Quinn, Jaquan Brisker, and Roquan Smith available for practice due to holdouts. Now Brisker is signed, and Quinn is rejoining the team.
A nice morale boost for the locker room.
#Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn has reported to training camp, per source.
Quinn, who had 18 1/2 sacks in 2021, skipped last month’s mandatory minicamp. He’s due $12.9 million in 2022.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 26, 2022
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Robert Quinn understands the task ahead.
His leverage in any trade plans was never strong. The Bears control his contract rights for three more years. That doesn’t mean they’re unwilling to listen to his request. It is only that they have no reason to feel pressured to get a deal done if he tries to hold them hostage. His best course of action is to come in, play great, and stay healthy. If he does that and the Bears are bad, as many expect, there is a strong possibility he’ll get his wish before the trade deadline passes in October.
If he continues the trend he was on last year when he had 18 sacks, teams will push that much harder to claim his services. There are plenty of landing spots that make sense for him. Arizona and Buffalo come to mind. In the meantime, he should be an excellent fit for Matt Eberflus’ 4-3 system. Defensive end was always his best spot. With how aggressive this scheme is, he’ll fit right in.
R Quinn immediately makes this front 7 better. He immediately makes T Gipson a threat opposite him and immediately makes the LBs more dangerous. I read all the reports about this D and how they will not be this or that, how they won’t be better; then I laugh at the writers and haters who fail to understand how M Eberflus and company are putting pieces in strategic places to cover and mask the weakest links. From top to bottom, this roster has the ability to be very, very dangerous and exceedingly good in 2022.
How soon people forget he had 2 sacks not long ago and was called the worst FA signing before last years 18.5 sacks. I say sell high get a good draft pick for him while you can
We just signed a tackle who is older than Quinn and has shown decline over the past 2-3 years for $9-12 million (BTW, I am OK with that signing). Edge rushers have a history of longer productive careers than most position (the top 12 sack leaders retired at about 37 years old). We have Quinn locked in for 3 seasons (he would be 34 that final year) for about $13 million per year – roughly half what the top edge rushers are getting.
Why on earth would we trade him?
Yes. He needs to be in camp, in shape and mentally ready to play in this defense. His path to what he wants is to be excellent in every way. At least we know he’s capable of all that. I wouldn’t mind him sticking around for a few years if he’s going to grab 12-18 sacks each year.