Chicago Bears: Is Drew Brees an option for quarterback?

The Chicago Bears should be excited after a workout video of Drew Brees has surfaced, sparking conversation on his possible return to the NFL.

The Bears should speculate the situation with Drew Brees, as he has initiated the notion that he could be returning to the NFL for another season. Could he come to Chicago?

Drew Brees just came off what was supposed to be his final year in the NFL. The Saints and Brees lost in the NFC Divisional round to the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was supposed to be Brees’s last game at the Superdome in New Orleans. But now? Uncertain.

Brees was seen in a video doing a workout with his trainer and looking in great shape. He has yet to officially announce his resignation from the game of football. However, Brees has accepted a veteran-minimum contract deal this past season, forfeiting his $22 million next season, which seemed to be an indicator of retirement.

So … could the Chicago Bears have the opportunity to take on Drew Brees?

Obviously, Brees did not end things how he had wanted to in New Orleans. They did win the division, going 12-4 on the year and besting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the regular season. But, after beating the Bears in the first round of the playoffs, they lost to the Buccaneers at home.

Brees had an efficient season this past year, throwing for 2,942 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, with the second-highest completion percentage in the NFL (70.5 percent). He suffered a rib injury towards the end of the season, forcing him out of the final stretch of the regular season.

The Saints seem to be done with Brees as well.

“We’ve gone through the quarterbacks. Of course, we’ve read all of those players. Taysom Hill, who’s in the building. Jameis (Winston), who’s a free agent, who we hope to sign here, sooner or later. We’ve got a pretty good vision with those players. I think within the next week we’ll know a little bit more,” said Saints Head Coach Sean Payton via Cody Benjamin of CBS.

The Saints have also been listed by Russell Wilson as one of the four teams he would want to be traded to. They might be on the lookout for a new franchise quarterback, as things are not exactly working out for the talented Saints team with Drew Brees.

Therefore, if made available, it’s entirely possible that Ryan Pace could jump on the train for getting Drew Brees to suit up for the Bears.

How would the Bears get him? Does this move help the situation?

I can tell you two people this would help — Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. The two are close to losing their jobs if they are unable to produce a season to George McCaskey’s liking next year. Brees can help them save their jobs.

The Bears could also acquire Brees for cheaper than Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson, for example. Brees would take far less draft capital and players to acquire. He is at the end of his career and if you watched him play last season, it seemed he went overboard trying to continue it.

Brees could buy another year of success, particularly in the public relations department and most likely in the win column. Meanwhile, the Bears could draft a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft and treat Brees as a bridge quarterback, while the farm develops.

The Bears have the 20th overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, with possible opportunities to take Trey Lance or Mac Jones to be the future quarterback. What better way to develop a young quarterback than with the guidance of one of the best to ever play the position?

While this entire situation is entirely hypothetical with no concrete connection to the Bears, the thought of obtaining one of the best quarterbacks of all time is exciting. He could bring a lot of opportunities to the Bears and help speed the process for their next playoff run.