The Chicago Bears made the announcement a few days ago that most of the offensive starters would not play on Saturday in the preseason opener. That included quarterback Caleb Williams. That wasn’t a big surprise. With bad weather expected and two joint practices on the horizon, it didn’t make much sense to throw them out there. One person happy about that was backup QB Tyson Bagent. It meant he would get a chance to play a significant chunk of the game. Probably the first half.
This could be important. After all, it’s no secret that NFL teams have been showing more interest in Bagent lately, feeling he might be worth a look as a starter. It started with the Arizona Cardinals, but there are likely other teams included. One of them is the team Bagent will face off against in the upcoming game. The Cleveland Browns have their own problems at quarterback. That, and some other notable reasons, could mean Bagent is auditioning for his next team.
#1 – Tyson Bagent is better than any of their current QB options.
This may sound crazy when you say it out loud, but it’s not. Deshaun Watson is a desicated husk of the Pro Bowl player he was years ago. He’s looked lost ever since he got to Cleveland. Shedeur Sanders might be a fan favorite, but he showed nothing last season to suggest he should be a starting NFL quarterback. Reports out of training camp this past month haven’t changed that. Meanwhile, Bagent has looked terrific in Bears camp and has been a consistently great performer in each of the past two preseasons. Though he wasn’t perfect, he did have some nice moments when he started as a rookie in 2023.
#2 – Todd Monken is a big admirer of Ben Johnson’s work
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Sports Mockery caught onto some interesting information recently. Apparently, the Bears had serious interest in the current Browns head coach. Talks were progressing well between the two sides. However, once it became clear Johnson was interested in the job, Chicago called Monken to tell him that they planned to make an offer as a courtesy. Monken reportedly laughed and told them to hire Johnson. “He’s great,” he said. Not long after, Monken got the Browns job. So we know that the Cleveland head coach is a big admirer of Johnson’s work, and Tyson Bagent has spent two offseasons being developed by him. If Monken is as unhappy with his team’s QB situation as the rumors suggest, this is an alternative he might consider.
#3 – Cleveland has plenty of ammunition to make a deal
The primary sticking point in any Bagent trade idea has been the price tag. Johnson has made it crystal clear that he loves his young quarterback. He’d rather not trade him at all. So any idea of it happening would require a significant offer in return. The belief is a 2nd round pick is minimum. Most teams would be unwilling to make that kind of commitment to a backup unless they’re completely desperate. Cleveland might be the exception. They are flush with picks for next year thanks to a series of trades. That includes two 1st, a 2nd, a 3rd, and three 4th round picks. If they believe Bagent can become a capable quarterback, they have the resources to make a deal without feeling the sting.
