Everything that happens for the Chicago Bears over the next two months will begin and end with the quarterback position. Mitch Trubisky is out. Nick Foles is the backup (or the starter of last resort). Everything rumored and reported to this point is that GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy will be aggressive in pursuit of a legitimate difference-maker at the QB position.
Jay Glazer himself said they’re expected to be “big players.” What exactly that means remains unclear. The current landscape of big names will point the way. Chicago figures to be in on all of them in one way or another. So what exactly is happening out there? What is the latest buzz on the QB market?
Here are the details as of now. If they hold true, it figures to impact what the Bears plan to do in big, big ways.
Latest QB rumors paint a clear picture for the Chicago Bears
Texans plan to play chicken with Deshaun Watson
As if the Watson saga weren’t heated enough already, the Houston brass had their first press conference of the new year. GM Nick Caserio didn’t waste much time. Before even fielding questions, he made a statement that the Texans view Watson as their franchise quarterback and have no plans to trade him. New head coach David Culley echoed that sentiment. A lot of people aren’t buying it.
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They feel it’s posturing. Houston won’t play their hand until they absolutely have to. It’s likely they will spend the next couple of months doing everything possible to convince Watson to stay. All the while letting other teams like the Chicago Bears hopefully increase their offers to pry him loose. It’s a win-win from their perspective. Either the QB stays put or Houston secures a monster trade package.
49ers are in hot pursuit of Matthew Stafford
While people continue to point out San Francisco as a prime landing spot for Deshaun Watson, it seems the team itself may not even bother going down that road. Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated and Benjamin Allbright of KOA Newsradio have both stated the 49ers have focused their full attention instead on acquiring Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Vincent Frank has since added that the 12th pick may not be involved, which is interesting.
Still, the trade would make sense. Stafford is a clear upgrade over Jimmy Garoppolo who’s been unable to stay healthy. He turns 33 this year, which isn’t too old. They also hold several extra Day 2 picks, which would be appealing to Detroit who no doubt would package them with #7 overall to try moving up to secure their QB of the future. It’s a deal that would make sense for both sides.
March 9th could drastically alter Dak Prescott situation
With so much attention on Watson and Stafford, it’s easy to forget that Prescott is a factor in these QB discussions. Many feel it’s a foregone conclusion that the Dallas Cowboys will franchise tag their Pro Bowler if they still can’t lock him in to a long-term contract. However, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News indicated this isn’t going to fix the problem.
“A second franchise tag is a nuclear option. If Dallas uses that tag and then is unable to sign Prescott to a long-term deal in July before training camp starts, the quarterback will play this season and then be gone next year in free agency. The Cowboys can’t let it get to that point. If the sides don’t reach an agreement by the March 9 deadline, or aren’t convinced a deal is imminent, the Cowboys must move on.”
What does all this mean for the Bears?
The Chicago Bears may have to wait on Watson front. Perhaps well into free agency and even to the start of the draft. It’s clear the Texans have no plans to make a move on the QB unless they’re certain they can’t convince him to stay. This maneuver by Caserio is a classic standard operating procedure. He closed the door almost all the way but left it slightly cracked open, which may compel teams to increase their offers.
Stafford? It’s looking like he will be the first big domino to fall. Going to San Francisco as the smoke continues to hint could lead to some big changes. First, it means Garoppolo is virtually certain to be cut. That would put an intriguing veteran with ties to Chicago on the free agent market. It also would alter the landscape of the top 15 in the draft. With San Francisco off the QB market, the spots between #9 and #14 will be occupied by teams who will have their quarterbacks. Presuming of course Detroit gets theirs as expected #7 or earlier.
This would open a considerable window for the Bears to move up if a QB they like happens to slip into that range.
As for Prescott? Failing to ink a long-term deal means the team could end up doing a tag-and-trade scenario. Under league guidelines, the price paid in such a situation would be two 1st round picks. With all the talk about what Bears fans would give up for the 25-year old Watson, would they surrender two 1sts for the 27-year old Prescott? Pace and Nagy would probably consider it.
