Since the Chicago Bears were eliminated from the playoffs on January 10th against the New Orleans Saints, they have been linked to all available quarterbacks this offseason. Whether be Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, or Carson Wentz, NFL insiders have linked the Bears in trade talks to all of them. Although Chicago needs a quality quarterback, the team’s desperation to fill the position could cause them to overpay when they don’t need to.

It's trade rumor season! And there are quite a few QBs being discussed. @Hub_Arkush, @sean_hammond and @KyleNabors look at potential options for the #Bears in this week's podcast.

Listen here: https://t.co/y1DG6VGrTX pic.twitter.com/XyWZeJaTUU

— Bears Insider (@bears_insider) January 29, 2021

The Bears Are Unaware Of The Leverage They Have

General manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy need to get the quarterback position correct this offseason if they wish to make a deep playoff run in 2021. Although the team needs a quarterback to make the deep run, Nagy’s team has shown that they can still be a playoff contender without a top-tier quarterback. The Bears have made the playoffs two of the last three seasons and have not had a losing season despite having one of the worst offenses in the NFL the previous two seasons. In half of Chicago’s 16 wins the last two seasons, the offense has scored 21 points or less.

Fun fact: #Bears QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles are tied for the 32nd best passer rating in NFL history at 87.1.

— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) December 21, 2020

The ability to win games despite not putting up points or having stellar quarterback play demonstrates the Bears’ ability to win games with their defense. That is important when in trade talks because unlike, other teams in need of good quarterbacks, the Bears have shown that their team is not utmost dependent on a quarterback to win games. For example, one team in need of a quarterback this offseason that is dependent on the play of the position is the Indianapolis Colts.

Over the last three seasons, The Colts have made the playoffs twice, with a losing recording sandwiched between the playoff seasons. During those playoff seasons, Indianapolis had Pro Bowl quarterbacks in Andrew Luck and Phillip Rivers, while the team had Jacoby Brissett as their quarterback in their 2019 losing season. With Rivers now retired, the Colts should be more desperate and open in trading for a quarterback than the Bears appear to the rest of the league.

Is Philip Rivers a Hall of Famer?

— 8x Pro Bowler
— No. 5 in career passing TD
— No. 5 in career passing yards
— No. 5 in career completions
— No. 12 in career passer rating
— Never missed a game
— 252 straight starts
— Played through torn ACL in 2007 AFC title game pic.twitter.com/SHpYFI0vIg

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 20, 2021

Ryan Pace Has A Poor History Of Wanting To Overpay

Another important aspect during the Bears’ offseason pursuit of a quarterback is Pace’s history addressing team needs. In 2017, following the lowest winning season in team history, Chicago’s general manager focused all his attention on finding the best quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. That quarterback in Pace’s mind was Mitchell Trubisky, who the general manager would trade four total picks to move up just one spot out of fear of losing the quarterback he was focused on. Many draft Analysts believe that the general manager overpaid and outbid himself, fearful of losing a quarterback that would have been there if the team stayed where they were.

11. Ryan Pace has made three significant trades up in the draft to this point.

For Trubisky in 2017 (cost two 3rds and a 4th)
For Miller in 2018 (cost a 2nd)
Former Montgomery in 2019 (cost 4th and 5th)

All things considered? Don't expect a return on those investments. #Bears

— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) October 5, 2020

A year later, Chicago’s biggest offseason need on offense was the wide receiver position. Pace’s number one goal was to find an impact wide receiver to help Trubisky’s growth. Although the team signed the best free-agent wide receiver available in Allen Robinson, they were linked to several bizarre trade rumors for a wide receiver. One involved Dolphin’s Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry. In return, Chicago was willing to trade Pro Bowl running back Jordan Howards, who had rushed for over 2,500 yards in his first two seasons, along with a high-value draft selection. It demonstrated that Pace was willing to give up more than he needed to get the player he wanted.

The Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins have had conversations about Jarvis Landry and a third-round pick to the Bears in exchange for Jordan Howard and a swap of the Dolphins pick at No. 11 overall for the Bears at No. 8. (Via @moonmullinNBCS)

— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) March 3, 2018

On Friday, several social media rumors linked the Bears to Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz who is on the trade block following his benching at the end of this season. Wentz is a good quarterback but isn’t worth overpaying to get. If Chicago traded first-round draft selections and defensive players in return for a player like Watson, it would be understandable. Trading a first-round pick for the Eagles quarterback would not be justifiable.

So now I’m hearing the Eagles want at least two first round picks and a player for Wentz and the Bears are listening!!!!!!!

— George Ofman (@georgeofman) February 5, 2021

Watson may be the only available quarterback worth parting ways with a first-round selection, but the Bears may end up giving up their first-round pick for another quarterback due to lack of leverage. Both the Eagles and Raiders have Pro Bowl quarterbacks that they are willing to trade and are well aware of the Bears’ eagerness. Pace appears to be losing leverage given the number of names they are linked along with what they are willing to give up to.

The Bears are currently in a dangerous situation as everyone is aware of what they want and how desperate they are to get it. In 1997, the team traded their first-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Rick Mirer. Mirer failed miserably in Chicago and was gone within a year. The Seahawks took advantage of the Bears’ desperation to find a quarterback, and now 24 years later, it appears that Pace and his staff are in a very similar position to repeat history.