Chicago Bears: Ranking the 2020 quarterback rumors via trade and free agency
Probably cannot convince me
These three are guys who if someone came at me with a great argument for signing or trading for him, I might change my mind. Probably not, but maybe.
10. Josh Rosen – Miami
I must point out that these rankings are similar to how you would rank tiers in fantasy football. You could probably switch the likes of numbers eight, nine or 10. Josh Rosen has played two seasons in the NFL and he has found himself on two different teams. He was drafted 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. After a disappointing season, the team traded him to Miami.
Now, after only starting three games, Rosen is in the trade rumor mill again. Rosen has yet to complete more than 56 percent of his passes for a season. He has also thrown only 12 touchdowns over 16 games while throwing 19 interceptions. He has not been good.
That said, if the Chicago Bears decide to add some depth to their quarterback room, trading for Rosen might not be a bad idea. He should come relatively cheap as far as trades are concerned. This move could make sense in two ways. First, if the team is going to sign a more proven veteran, Ryan Pace could trade for Rosen as opposed to trying to hit the lottery with a sixth or seventh-round pick. Second, if Pace wants to draft a guy in the second-round, Rosen could be insurance.
I do think he could find more success in Matt Nagy’s offense than he has seen in Arizona and Miami, but that is still a significant risk the Chicago Bears probably should not make.
9. Teddy Bridgewater – Saints
Coming out of Louisville, I was a big Teddy Bridgewater fan. I thought he would become a solid NFL quarterback. He never lived up to my expectations though — at least not until this year anyway. Quite honestly, even this year was not as “great” as things looked in the win-loss column.
When in Minnesota, Bridgewater did what was needed to win games. The team had a solid defense and Bridgewater was an average quarterback at best. His first season he started 12 games and threw 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The following year, he started all 16 games. He matched the 14 touchdowns and threw nine interceptions. Somehow he made the Pro Bowl that season.
Bridgewater then had a gruesome knee injury in the offseason leading up to the 2016 season. He missed the entire year before returning to football. He found himself as the backup to Case Keenum. Keenum had a career year that season and Bridgewater moved on to New Orleans. He started five games in 2019 and won all of them. He still was not “great” in my opinion.
In his defense, he was showing improvement over his last three games. He threw seven touchdowns and only one interception. Two of those touchdowns came in a win over the Chicago Bears. He also averaged 278 yards in those three games.
Bridgewater would honestly be a solid fit in Matt Nagy’s offense too. I sound like I am convincing myself here, but I do not trust him to succeed outside of the Saints offense with those offensive weapons. He will cost over $20 million per season too.
8. Alex Smith – Chiefs
Let me preface this by saying, if I knew Smith was 100 percent healthy, he would probably be my top choice. Think about it for a minute. Smith saw his biggest success in Kansas City with Andy Reid and Matt Nagy. He has been credited with helping Patrick Mahomes develop too.
Even better, Smith would have the easiest transition from his prior team to the Chicago Bears. Although the offenses are not the same, they have many similarities. Smith would easily pick up on those and the offseason would feel less distraught knowing he could step in. Let us be honest, he would not step in, he would start.
My only other concern besides Smith’s health would be his contract. The Chicago Bears would need to trade for him (this could be a concern depending on the capital needed), but would only owe him $16 million in 2020. His salary jumps up to $19 million in 2021 and $21 million in 2022. The Bears could cut him in 2021.
Smith is clearly a good fit in the system. As we learn more about his health, Smith will continue to climb up these rankings.