Chicago Bears Rumors: Russell Wilson pursuit marked as priority

Once mocked as a place where quarterbacks go to die, the Chicago Bears are prepping for a pursuit of a future hall of fame quarterback in the form of Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks.

The Chicago Bears would look so good with a new franchise quarterback.

The NFL world has certainly seen the rumors surrounding Wilson escalate this past week. The rumors have grown from Wilson being upset with the Seahawks; to Wilson indicating that he may request a trade; to Wilson’s agent providing the Seahawks with a list of teams that the quarterback would prove a trade to; to the Seahawks reportedly acknowledging inquires on Wilson; to the current state where the Bears have reportedly made the pursuit of Wilson their off-season priority.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune confirmed on Friday that Wilson is a priority for the Bears:

"The thinking among multiple sources is the Bears have prioritized making a run at Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. His agent included the team on a list of four clubs Wilson would approve a trade to, although it hasn’t yet reached the point where he’s asked out. Two of the other three teams on Wilson’s list probably can be ruled out. The New Orleans Saints are mired in salary-cap hell and the Dallas Cowboys are expected to keep Dak Prescott. The fourth is the Las Vegas Raiders, and they’ve showed strong public support for Derek Carr."

This small line in Biggs’ column marks an important moment in the Bears’ off-season. This marks the first time that a local source has confirmed a quarterback rumor. It is important to note that previous rumors regarding interest in Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold, and even DeShaun Watson haven’t been confirmed. For Briggs to go on record with a source indicating that the Bears are prioritizing Wilson means that there is smoke to the fire.

For the Bears, it’s no secret why Wilson is their priority. Wilson is a franchise-changing quarterback and not the franchise-changing quarterback the Bears believed they were getting in Jay Cutler. Wilson is the quarterback that would not only improve everyone on the offense but also make the Bears a legitimate contender in the NFC.

The next question that comes is what would it cost the Bears to acquire Wilson. The answer would almost certainly include three first-round draft picks. After the draft pick compensation, there is then a question of player compensation. Nick Foles would almost certainly have to be included in the trade given that the Seahawks, at the very least, would need a bridge quarterback. After Foles, that is when the Bears will likely have to include one or two players from a young nucleus core that includes Roquan Smith, Jaylon Johnson, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Kmet.

It certainly would be a steep price to pay but when the return is a future hall of fame quarterback that still has five or six seasons of an elite level of quarterback play, no price is too steep.