It’s amazing how the tone has shifted on Mitch Trubisky in the past two weeks. People were done with him. He was his usual self in a loss to Green Bay. Statistically productive but gave up two brutal turnovers and didn’t get going until late in the game when the score was already decided. Then he helps the Chicago Bears scored 30+ points in back-to-back weeks and suddenly fans are wondering. Has the light finally turned on?
Context is always key. He played the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans. Two of the worst defensive teams in the entire NFL. Yes, he executed well and put up strong numbers, but it’s not like he faced a big challenge in either contest. The encouraging part was how the Bears used him. Finally getting him out on the move with more bootlegs and play action.
He seemed much more comfortable.
Whether that means anything when they play actual good or at least well-coached teams? This is an answer they don’t have. Perhaps the Minnesota Vikings can answer that question this week. They gave the Bears offense fits a few weeks ago. Trubisky has always tended to struggle against them. If he performs well, that might really start the ball rolling on possibly changing plans to retain him.
So let’s say it happens. Say the Bears see enough down the stretch that convinces them giving Trubisky one more year is worth the risk. Here’s the problem. How do they do that? Remember they didn’t pick up his 5th-year option. So he is a free agent in March. Would he be inclined to sign a one-year deal to stay in Chicago or take his chances elsewhere? The former doesn’t feel likely, which creates an issue.
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Retaining Mitch Trubisky may come at a major cost
Most people will say the solution is simple. Just use the transition tag. The Bears used this on Kyle Fuller in 2018. It essentially turns the player into a restricted free agent. Other teams can make offers to that player and then the Bears can decide to match it. In the case of Trubisky, there is little likelihood another team will make a big offer to him next offseason. So there would be a good chance the Bears can keep him at a favorable price.
There is just one problem with that scenario. If they use the transition tag on Trubisky, you can wave goodbye to Allen Robinson. Here is a key fact about the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Teams are only allowed to use one tag per year. So if the Bears were to put the transition tag on Trubisky, they wouldn’t be able to use the franchise tag on Robinson.
So unless they can extend him, which is unlikely, he will leave in free agency.
Is keeping Mitch Trubisky for another experimental year really worth losing your best offensive weapon. The one this quarterback has the strongest bond with? It doesn’t seem that way. This is the reality the Bears have found themselves in. Two likely courses of action lay ahead. Either they tag Robinson and go hunting for a new quarterback next year. Or they run it back with Trubisky, lose Robinson, and have to go hunting for a new weapon in addition to offensive line upgrades.
So they better make this decision with the greatest care.
