Chicago Bears: Avoid Sam Darnold at all costs this offseason

Every quarterback in the NFL that’s been in the rumor mill this offseason has been linked to the Chicago Bears. From Matthew Stafford to Deshaun Watson to Marcus Mariota to Sam Darnold. The worst-kept secret in the NFL is that Chicago has a quarterback problem. Everyone knows a move is coming, it’s just a matter of when it’s made.

If you’re active on social media, you know that Chicago Bears fans have been debating a different quarterback each week that the Bears should acquire this offseason. This week, it seems to be Sam Darnold, the former third-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Chicago Bears should avoid Sam Darnold at all costs.

Coming out of USC three years ago, many thought Darnold would be a solid starting quarterback in the NFL. However, he hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations. Some have labeled the state of the New York Jets franchise as a reason for Darnold’s struggles while others cite Darnold’s own struggles as being a reason he hasn’t been able to live up to expectations.

This offseason, with the Jets slated to pick second overall, many wonder if a quarterback will be selected, which will then lead to New York trading Darnold this offseason. While the Jets haven’t even made a decision on Darnold, no matter what happens, Bears General Manager Ryan Pace shouldn’t be calling his former colleague Joe Douglas.

The argument that Darnold will be just 24 years old by the time the 2021 NFL regular season rolls around is totally valid. However, why would the Bears take a chance on a player who’s proven nothing so far while also giving up assets like draft picks in the process? A day three draft pick may be fair compensation for Darnold, however, Chicago could use that same draft capital to acquire a rookie quarterback and just fully hit the reset button at the position.

If a team, not just the Bears, trades for Darnold this offseason, the hope is that the light magically turns on for Darnold in year four. The Bears have been here before. They chose to stick with Mitchell Trubisky in 2020 while trading for Nick Foles. Instead, Pace’s plan at quarterback blew up because neither Trubisky nor Foles proved to be effective quarterbacks. Darnold is in the same boat. If he hasn’t shown anything in three seasons, are we sure the light would magically just turn on when paired with Matt Nagy?

Another factor is Darnold’s contract. While he’s still on his rookie deal, a team would need to make a decision on his fifth-year option this offseason. Pick up the fifth-year option and Darnold is under contract through the 2022. Decline and he’s a free agent during the 2022 offseason. Essentially, trading for him could turn out to be a one-year rental and the Bears need to find a long-term solution, not just a one-year rental at quarterback.

With a long offseason ahead, there are still a lot of important decisions to be made. For Pace, his most important decision this offseason will be quarterback, however, Darnold is an option that should be avoided unless desperation kicks in.