The Chicago Bears offseason quarterback search added another name to the mix in Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson. It was reported earlier this week that Wilson is potentially open to a trade to Chicago. Seattle’s quarterback, who has made the Pro Bowl in the last four seasons, isn’t unhappy with Seattle but wouldn’t oppose a possible trade following a slight disagreement with coach Pete Carroll. It appears that regardless of who might be the quarterback for the Bears in 2021, it is growing more and more likely it will involve a massive trade, something the team has a quiet history of doing so.
The Bears Have Always Spent Top Dollar To Solve Their Biggest Needs
One of the stigmas the Bears’ franchise has had since the start of NFL exclusive-rights free agency started in 1993 is that they are hesitant to spend money on high-priced free agents. Although the Bears don’t consistently spend large amounts of money in free agency like other teams, Chicago has signed the top available free agent when there is a dire need.
The first instance came in the offseason before the 1996 season as the Bears were coming off a 9-7 that featured the best season by a Bears’ offense in team history. Chicago missed the playoffs in 1995 due, in part, to their 22nd rank defense that was bottom five in pass defense. The Bears signed the best defensive free agent that offseason in linebacker Bryan Cox, who made the Pro Bowl in the previous two seasons with Miami. Cox, at the age of 28, was believed to entering his prime with the Bears.
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Eight years later, the Bears found themselves in the opposite situation following a 5-11 2004 campaign. In Lovie Smith’s first season as Bears head coach, the offense was the worst in the league and set several records in lack of production. As the team had a young defense that they could win with, they needed to improve the offense fast. In free agency, then general manager Jerry Angelo shocked the NFL by signing free agent wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad to a deal worth 30 million dollars. Muhammad, the season prior, was named both an All-Pro and Pro Bowler as he led the league in receiving yards and touchdown catches with 16.
In 2010, the team signed the best free agent available to the largest free-agent contract in team history when they signed All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers. The Bears in 2009 had finished 7-9 and desperately need to add a pass-rusher to their defensive line. Peppers signed a six-year deal worth 91 million dollars. The signing paid off instantly as the defensive end was named All-Pro again in 2010 and helped the Bears make it to the NFC Championship game.
Even recently, the Bears have addressed their most significant need in free agency, as in 2018, Chicago signed receiver Allen Robinson. Although there was concern about Robinson’s knee injury from the previous season, the receiver has fully lived up to his contract as he has had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the team. He has been the one consistent threat in an offense that has lacked consistency over the last three years.
And with that, here are your 2018 NFL Free Agency Winners: Mitch Trubisky (Allen Robinson is worth the money)… Titans (three legit No. 1 corners)… Vikings… Andy Reid (Mahomes/Hunt/Kelce/Hill/Watkins will be neat)… Whoever Signs Tim Tebow.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) March 14, 2018
No Price Tag is Too High For The Bears When It Comes To Trades
In the last 12 years, the Bears’ franchise has made two of the NFL’s biggest trades. The first came in 2009 when Chicago traded for Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler shocking everyone. The Bears were not the rumored favorite, but it gave Chicago the best-talented quarterback in franchise history. The trade sent Cutler to the Bears in return for two first-round selections, a third-round selection, and quarterback Kyle Orton. Angelo’s goal was to win because of the quarterback position, and believed that acquiring the Denver quarterback would do just that. Cutler would break a majority of Bears’ quarterback records during his tenure with the team.
𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 2, 2009…
Bears trade Kyle Orton, 2009 first-and-third round selections, and 2010 first-rounder to the Denver Broncos for Jay Cutler and a 2009 fifth-round pick.
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) April 2, 2019
Nine years later, current Bears general manager Ryan Pace made another major trade a week before the 2018 season began that changed the Bears franchise. Raiders’ All-Pro Linebacker Khalil Mack had held out of the preseason and was threatened to carry it over to the regular season, waiting for a contract extension. While other teams were viewed as the favorite to trade for Mack, Chicago’s general manager traded two first-round selections, a third-round, and a sixth-round selection in return for the Pro Bowl linebacker and a 2020 second-round draft pick. The Bears would make Mack the highest-paid defensive player in the league as the team would eventually win the NFC North Division.
Remember that back in 2018 Pace checked in with McCaskey before making the Khalil Mack trade.
The GM has to sell the big move to ownership.
My guess is Carson Wentz didn't tickle their fancy.#Bears https://t.co/BJSS5qeGav
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) February 18, 2021
It appears now that the Bears seemed destined to correct their quarterback position with one gigantic move. Whether trading for Deshaun Watson, Sam Darnold, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater, or Wilson, Pace and head coach Matt Nagy seemed poised to get a quarterback that makes the Bears Super Bowl contenders in 2021. If the team does make a significant move to acquire a quarterback that involves several first-round selections and players, it should surprise no one as the franchise has a history of doing just that.
