Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky’s fifth-year option being overblown

Too many people are reading too much into the fact that the Chicago Bears have yet to pick up Mitchell Trubisky’s fifth-year option.

The Chicago Bears have many tough decisions to make this offseason. The team clearly thought Mitchell Trubisky would take another step forward in 2019 as opposed to two steps back. Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy would prefer to be discussing an extension for Trubisky this offseason as opposed to making a decision on whether or not to pick up his fifth-year option.

Fans, and even some analysts, have made a big deal of the fact that Pace has yet to pick up the fifth-year option. Many want to read into this as the team has little faith in the young quarterback. Pace spoke about Trubisky and the fifth-year option at the NFL Combine this week. He made it clear that he still believes in Trubisky and that Trubisky is the Chicago Bears 2020 quarterback.

Now, we already spoke about how we should be reading what Ryan Pace is not saying more than what he is saying, but the fact he has yet to pick up Trubisky’s option is not as big of a deal as many want it to seem.

First of all, not one team has picked up a fifth-year option yet this offseason. As Pace alluded to, the team has until May to make the decision. Free agency will start soon and then the 2020 NFL Draft will follow. The team does not need to rush to a decision. Just as every other team has yet to make a move, does this mean they too are undecided about their 2017 draft pick?

This does not mean that Pace and Nagy believe in Trubisky enough to make a decision quickly. Many reasons could be behind why they have yet to pick up the option. The CBA is still under negotiation, Trubisky is recovering from his shoulder surgery, and honestly, the team will want to see what happens in free agency and the draft since Trubisky is the only quarterback on the roster.

Alas, the fact that the option still has not been addressed at this point means nothing. We can stop talking about it, at least for a month or two. Once other teams start making decisions about their 2017 draft picks, the topic can be brought up again.

Quite frankly, if nothing changes regarding the fifth-year option in the new CBA, I fully expect Pace to pick up Trubisky’s option. Just like with Leonard Floyd, the contract is only guaranteed for medical reasons. The team has yet to make a decision about Floyd, but I doubt he earns $13 million this season unless it is with a signing bonus because of a new contract that lowers his AAV. Pace will do something similar with Trubisky.

Trubisky may not be the future. Honestly, he may not be the answer in 2020. Nagy has made it clear he wants Trubisky to improve when it comes to reading the defense. What Nagy says means more than what the guy who hitched his wagon to Trubisky says if we are being truthful.

However, when it comes to the option, it makes business sense to wait and it makes business sense to pick it up depending on how the offseason plays out leading into May. For now, we can find other reasons to bash Pace and Trubisky if that is the route you want to take, or simply discuss how the fact the number two overall pick should be getting an extension at this point instead of worrying about the option. The fact it has not been picked up yet is being overblown though and for now that conversation needs to end.