Chicago Bears: Ranking 5 potential free agent quarterbacks for backup job
By Ryan Heckman
The Chicago Bears will need to address the backup quarterback position one way or another. Ideally, they could find a veteran free agent capable of filling that void.
Let’s be clear from the get-go. The Chicago Bears will likely be aggressive in free agency, but finding a backup quarterback will likely take a committee approach. Sure, they will more than likely bring someone in via free agency. But I would not doubt Ryan Pace when it comes to drafting someone later to come in and compete for the backup job.
Quarterback is a delicate position. Just look at the Green Bay Packers. Sure, as Bears fans we love to see our rivals suffer. However, take them as a solid example of what happens when a franchise quarterback goes down. Aaron Rodgers gets hurt and voila, the Packers are average.
Mitchell Trubisky has shown flashes of being the franchise quarterback in Chicago. The staff clearly believes in him, and so do I. With that said, the best thing you can do for him is to protect him up front. The second-best thing you can do for not only him but the team as a whole is to find a solid backup who you’re confident in.
Head coach Matt Nagy has been around a lot of quarterbacks over the years, and he has proven to be an ingenious play-caller. Nagy has the experience. He was offered this job for a significant reason. Let’s not put it past the Bears to potentially look at bringing someone in who has worked with him in the past — again, at least for competition in training camp.
The free agent market this year, in terms of veteran quarterbacks, is pretty scarce. Obviously guys like Case Keenum, Josh McCown, Sam Bradford and A.J. McCarron look like they will receive a decent amount of money and all have a chance to start wherever they land.
The goal here is to look into guys who will be cheaper overall yet still be able to offer a serviceable skillset for a backup quarterback. Not only that, but it will help tremendously to have someone with at least a moderate amount of experience in the league.
The following are a group of quarterbacks I believe could be a fit in Chicago to compete for a backup position behind the former North Carolina Tar Heel.