The Bears will spend the NFL Scouting Combine subsequent week on a fact-finding mission — to find out about prospects, sure, but additionally in regards to the form of the offseason scramble for quarterbacks.
By the time they go away Indianapolis, the Bears ought to have a greater thought of the place their pursuit of a veteran to pair with Mitch Trubisky stands. Chatter amongst brokers and executives ought to carry into focus the price of quarterbacks via free company and within the commerce market earlier than the league yr begins March 18.
General supervisor Ryan Pace stated final month that Trubisky was his starter in 2020. His actions throughout the subsequent month will communicate louder than these phrases.
Pace likes to say he operates with a “no-regrets mindset,” however the Bears aren’t in place to splurge. They have about $26.three million in projected salary-cap area after accounting for his or her 51 costliest contracts, in accordance with Spotrac.com. The league common is $44.four million.
Just a yr in the past on the mix, Pace stated the Bears anticipated backup Chase Daniel “to be a Bear for a long time.” That sentiment didn’t maintain. For all Daniel supplied in mentorship the final two years, he has began solely 5 instances in his 10-year profession.
At the least, Pace figures so as to add a veteran extra able to pushing Trubisky — and taking the beginning job outright if he falters.
Below are 20 choices the Bears have — some extra doubtless than others:
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
The Hall of Famers
Tom Brady
Patriots 2000-present
Age throughout 2020 season: 43
Would Brady dare go away the league’s dominant franchise for a hotter local weather and a crew needing an id (the Raiders? Chargers?), or is he utilizing his first journey to free company to leverage the Patriots into including offensive weapons?
Bears’ match: Even if the Bears may afford him (they’ll’t), why would he select to come back right here?
Drew Brees
Chargers 2001-2005, Saints 2006-present
Age: 41
Brees introduced Tuesday that he plans to return for an additional season with the Saints. Now his two backups may head elsewhere.
Bears’ match: None. He’s as a lot part of New Orleans as etouffee and vomiting on the street.
Philip Rivers
Chargers 2004-present
Age: 39
Rivers already has stated he gained’t return to the one crew he has ever recognized, transferring his giant household from Southern California to Florida.
Rivers, who’s sixth all-time in passing yards, has been linked to the Buccaneers and Colts. Warning: His 88.5 passer ranking final season was 10 factors beneath his profession common.
Bears’ match: Remember when coach Matt Nagy stated on the finish of the season that Trubisky nonetheless must discover ways to learn defenses? Veteran wile could be an improve, although the soft-tossing Rivers is a foul match within the chilly and wind.
The star in his prime
Dak Prescott
Cowboys 2016-present
Age: 27
The Cowboys determine to present Prescott the franchise tag after which attempt to negotiate a long-term cope with one of the best member of the 2020 free-agent class. They can’t screw this up, can they?
Bears’ match: The Bears don’t have the draft capital to commerce for him or the cash to present him a major extension.
Former first-rounders
Jameis Winston
Buccaneers 2015-present
Age: 26
The 2015 No. 1 general decide led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards — but additionally 30 interceptions, prompting LASIK surgical procedure this offseason. Asked in December if the Bucs may win with one other quarterback, coach Bruce Arians stated: “If we can win with this one, we can definitely win with another one, too.”
Bears’ match: Winston would trigger Nagy to lose no matter hair he has left. For all of Trubisky’s flaws, he has thrown fewer interceptions in his NFL profession than Winston did final yr alone.
Marcus Mariota
Titans 2015-present
Age: 27
Drafted one spot after Winston, Mariota performed his approach out of a beginning job final season. Pace as soon as thought extremely sufficient of Mariota to ponder buying and selling as much as draft him. His athleticism rivals Trubisky and suits nicely within the Bears’ offense.
Bears’ match: Mariota and Trubisky share the identical…