Chicago Bears: Ranking 5 potential free agent quarterbacks for backup job

2. Blaine Gabbert

Experience: Eighth season

Career stats: 44 TD, 43 INT, 71.5 rating

The last two guys on this list are somewhat similar in the sense that they are, or have been, making their living primarily as a backup quarterback in the NFL. Blaine Gabbert has never played a full season in the league, whether it be due to injuries or simply because he was replaceable.

The last five seasons of his career, Gabbert has played in three, one, eight, six and five games respectively. He hasn’t been a sure-fire anointed starter since his early days with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Since then, though, he has been able to give teams value as an average quarterback. And, what do average quarterbacks do? They back up the starter. It’s a pretty simple concept.

In 2015, it even looked as though the 49ers may allow Gabbert to take over the starting role for good heading into the next year. He ended up with a respectable rating of 86.2 for his work in 2015. Gabbert did end up starting six games the following season in 2016, but wasn’t the long-term answer for San Francisco.

In Arizona last year, he ended up playing in five games, throwing six touchdowns and six picks — perfect backup-worthy numbers, right?

Gabbert is one of the more seasoned veterans on this list, which again, is a great trait to have behind a young quarterback like Trubisky. It is very well possible that the Bears decide to go young even at the backup spot, via the draft, but Gabbert would be a solid option if they chose to go the veteran route.