Seems the Chicago Bears are ready to bow out of the quarterback derby before it really ever got going. Even as the Russell Wilson rumors continue to fly, ice cold water just got poured on fans’ hopes courtesy of the always reliable Brad Biggs. He revealed that the team appears to have eyes on their potential next quarterback. That being longtime veteran Andy Dalton.
It’s hard to tell what may have spurred this sudden shift in direction. Most likely it was the swift early action on the quarterback market. Jameis Winston signed a one-year deal to stay in New Orleans. Then Ryan Fitzpatrick did the same in Washington. Just like that, two secondary QB options were off the table. It isn’t hard to imagine GM Ryan Pace might’ve panicked and pushed forward with the idea of signing Dalton.
The next QB domino to fall could be Andy Dalton and one league source said he believes the Red Rifle could be headed to the #Bears. https://t.co/4ojjalQkHj
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 16, 2021
Or perhaps this is a calculated safety measure.
What does that mean? The Bears don’t want to get caught with their pants down if their pursuit of Wilson or Deshaun Watson ends up falling flat. So they decide to bring in somebody they’d be content with as a veteran arm if their efforts fail. It’s a way of covering their butts. A lot will be determined by how much money Dalton signs for if this ends up being the case.
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If it’s relatively cheap, then it might offer indications they aren’t done trying to add at the position. If it is closer to starter-esque money? That will be a strong indicator they actually view him as their primary option at quarterback. From there the plan would come into focus. They hope to sign him and use what resources they have to fortify the roster around him.
Andy Dalton isn’t going to save jobs
The truth is this move would reek of desperation. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy just settling for the least gag-worthy option they can get and pray it’s enough to get them back to the playoffs in 2021. The past few seasons prove as much. Since 2018, Dalton has started 33 games. He that time he’s gone 11-22 with 51 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, and an 84.1 passer rating. He did a fair job filling in for the injured Dak Prescott last year in Dallas but still went 4-5.
Now he’s expected to come in here and elevate the Bears past their 8-8 mediocrity? That feels highly unlikely. So either Pace and Nagy have talked themselves into thinking otherwise or they have other plans in motion and Andy Dalton is merely part of them. All fans can do is hope they don’t view him as the answer because if so it’s going to make watching the 2021 season utterly excruciating.
Maybe they have designs on drafting somebody early.
That would at least make this move a little more logical. Dalton could make a solid bridge option. Somebody who can keep the seat warm while a young guy learns on the sideline. Of course the Bears may have a hard time landing one at pick #20. So they would likely need to trade up in that scenario. Either way, this wasn’t the big news anybody wanted.