This 2020 offseason might arguably be the most unique and fascinating of any on this side of the millennium. Why? Never has a crop of veteran quarterbacks with such prestige and name recognition been potentially available to switch teams in modern NFL history. We’re talking three future Hall of Famers, multiple Pro Bowlers, and a few former 1st round picks. It’s the rarest of cases where the supply might actually outstrip the demand. Enter the Chicago Bears.
If any team could be considered a total wild card in this, it’s them. They started the offseason by declaring Mitch Trubisky would remain their starter in 2020. Yet what GM Ryan Pace has said and did haven’t always matched up. He left the door wide open for the idea of bringing in competition and that’s not to say he can’t be pushed into grabbing an outright replacement either. To say nothing of the rumors that head coach Matt Nagy no longer trusts Trubisky to run his offense correctly.
So looking at the entire landscape including free agents and possible trade options, who should be considered the most likely target for the Bears?
Which name has best odds of joining the Chicago Bears?
13. Matthew Stafford
It sounds crazy but there is a serious buzz out there that the Detroit Lions are considering a transition away from Stafford. His health issues this past season are likely a driving forward behind that. If so, they’re still bound to get a considerable package in any trade for him. Don’t count the Bears as players in this. Not just because they’re division rivals with the Lions, which is a dealbreaker by itself. There is also the fact they don’t have nearly enough draft capital to entice Detroit in a deal anyway.
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12. Dak Prescott
Throwing for over 4,900 yards in 2019 proved that Prescott is indeed a higher-end quarterback in the NFL. A guy a team can absolutely win with. While it’s technically true he’s set to be a free agent, don’t think for a second the Dallas Cowboys will let him reach the market. If they can’t work out some sort of big contract extension, they will just franchise tag him. The latter option is seeming more likely by the day. So the Bears shouldn’t even bother wasting their time.
11. Tom Brady
It’s certainly fun to speculate about the idea of the G.O.A.T coming to Chicago. Truth be told though, the odds of that happening are unlikely. The Bears just don’t have the money it will take to lure him here, which is reportedly at least $30 million per year. The New England Patriots are prepared to pay that amount while the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders are also preparing hard pursuits if the 43-year old ends up hitting the market. This is just a classic case of the product being priced out of their range.
10. Drew Brees
The connection to Pace who was with the New Orleans Saints pro scouting department when Brees was signed in 2006 is noteworthy. That said, the general belief is this situation will go one of two ways. Either Brees will come back for one more season in the Big Easy or he’ll retire. Sources close to it believe there is no consideration at all of the 41-year old playing somewhere else. He’s been in that system for most of his career and starting over in an unfamiliar environment doesn’t appeal to him.
09. Cam Newton
The status of the former MVP in Carolina is up in the air. Almost the entire organization from top to bottom has completely changed. Newton is also coming off a season cut short by injury, so it’s uncertain if the Panthers are prepared to move on in favor of a full rebuild. That would mean trading him. It’s definitely possible though there are some rumbling the team would like to keep him around to see how he bounces back from his foot issue. Either way, the Bears won’t be able to afford what it would take to get the 31-year old anyway as estimates have it costing multiple high picks.
08. Ryan Tannehill
The Comeback Player of the Year was the catalyst for Tennessee reaching the AFC championship game. Tannehill showed everybody that he can be an effective quarterback when he actually has pieces to work with. His timing couldn’t be better as this will make him some money on the open market. There is some speculation on whether the Titans will be the ones to pay him though. Odds are the franchise tag will come into play here. They don’t want to let him go but also seem to feel they might be able to do better. By tagging him they retain his rights in case the pursuit of an upgrade doesn’t go well.
07. Philip Rivers
This is the first QB on this list that can be considered “feasible” from the Bears’ perspective. As in somebody they might be able to get if a few things go their way. Rivers is 38-years old and looking for a new team after a breakup with the Chargers. Most believe he’s for sure gone, though rumors persist L.A. might franchise tag him. If not, Chicago could make a pitch to him on coming here. With that said, their odds aren’t great. Word is the Indianapolis Colts are interested in him and they have way more money to offer. The same goes for Tampa Bay.
06. Teddy Bridgewater
What this kid had to overcome after his devastating knee injury in 2016 that almost cost him his leg is incredible. After four years of relentless work and a 5-0 record as a backup for the Saints last season, Bridgewater is finally poised to regain his position as an NFL starter. Recently projections have him making somewhere in the ballpark of $25 million per year. There are plenty of teams capable of paying that amount. The Bears are not one of them. Not unless they make some salary cap concessions that seem highly unlikely at this point in time.
05. Derek Carr
It sounds crazy to think about. Carr just got done throwing for 4,000 yards and had a 100.8 passer rating this past season. He wasn’t always great but it seems the Raiders were most dissatisfied with what they saw. Buzz has been consistent since the spring of last year that the team was looking to move on. That kicked into overdrive when news came out they were ready to push hard for Brady. This makes it clearer than ever a change is likely coming. This feels like a deal the Bears might be able to pull off. Carr’s contract is large but not prohibitive with a base salary of just $19 million. Maybe a 2nd round pick and future mid rounder might be enough to swing a deal.
04. Jameis Winston
It sounds insane that a quarterback who just threw for 5,100 yards and 33 touchdowns is going to be a free agent. That’s what happens when you also throw 30 interceptions. Winston unquestionably has his moments of brilliance but his carelessness with the ball has many thinking there’s no way a team will pay him big money this March. This could work to the Bears’ advantage if they’re looking for competition for Trubisky. They could take a risk on Winston with a one-year deal to see if this QB-friendly coaching staff might be able to curb his gunslinging urges.
03. Nick Foles
When it comes to connections to the Bears, nobody tops Foles. He has worked with multiple coaches on their staff including Nagy, John DeFilippo, and Bill Lazor. He’s worked in this type of offense before and had a lot of success, including a Super Bowl MVP award in 2017. He’s also not too old at 31. In many ways he’s the ideal solution to the team’s problem. If only that contract weren’t an issue. Foles signed a massive $88 million deal with Jacksonville in 2019. Any team that trades for him will be slapped by a $21.8 million cap hit. That is a lot for this team. Maybe too much, but if the Jaguars sweetened the deal by sending a pick with him? That could do it.
02. Marcus Mariota
Still young? Check. Talented? Check. Has a history of success? Check. Likely will be cheap? Check. There is no doubt that Mariota fits a ton of what the Bears will likely be looking for on the market. Nevermind the fact that Pace was a big fan of his leading up to the 2015 draft. The Bears could easily see bringing him is as granting a still-young player a fresh start. Mariota always thrived in an offense with spread concepts. Something the Bears run. There is one notable obstacle in that he and Mariota have the same agent, which would be a problem from a money perspective. Still, if the guy is looking for an opportunity to compete, this is one of the better places for it.
01. Andy Dalton
Much of this depends on whether the Cincinnati Bengals cut or trade him. If it’s the former, then the Bears instantly become favorites. Dalton won’t command a ton of money to sign. He’s 32-years old with loads of proven experience. He has connections to the coaching staff through Lazor who was with him for three years between 2016 and 2018. If ever there was a guy that toed that line between quality backup and good competition for a struggling starter? It’s him. Some people may not like it, but this is where most of the arrows are pointing.
