The Los Angeles Chargers finally did it. After weeks of speculation, the franchise made the momentous announcement that longtime star quarterback Philip Rivers would be moving on after 16 years as their starting quarterback. He leaves after having thrown for over 59,000 yards, 397 touchdowns, winning 123 games and reaching two AFC championships. An eight-time Pro Bowler and the unquestioned best quarterback in franchise history.
Though 38-years old, River has already made it clear that he wishes to keep playing. This is great news for the Chicago Bears. No, not necessarily because it opens the possibility of him joining them. Something a lot of fans are deathly afraid of for some reason. More because it ensures that the 2020 crop of free agent quarterbacks are going to be positively stacked. Easily the most loaded the league has seen in a decade. Probably longer.
This is good because of the classic economic model of supply and demand. With so many QBs available, it increases the odds that the Bears might be able to get a notable name out there at a discounted price. Something that wouldn’t normally happen in free agency. Remember they had to pay Mike Glennon $16 million per year in 2017 because of how thin the market was. This time around the pickings is much richer.
Bears can only hope Brady follows Philip Rivers
Rivers is the first big shoe to drop in this sequence of events. Now all eyes will shift towards New England to see what Tom Brady will do. While most believe he’ll stay put, there is a legitimate buzz that he intends to test the market. If this is true, teams will be busy pushing hard to get him or Rivers first. This will enable the Bears to scour the second-tier market with names like Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum, and Marcus Mariota all being involved. Anyone of them might be willing to take a team-friendly deal in order to compete for the starting job.
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This is likely the scenario GM Ryan Pace is hoping for. His team doesn’t have a lot of money to spend, so being able to secure a competant veteran at a good price is absolutely something to hope for. Rivers hitting the market now couldn’t be better timed.
