The Chicago Bears traded a fourth-round pick for Robert Quinn. This puts an end to trade talks that have been circling around Quinn since back around OTAs. While the move was expected, it still ended up surprising some, especially in terms of the return.
Still, most reactions are based on expectations, and the reality is that if fans are disappointed by this trade, then they probably did not have the correct expectations. Here are three reasons why this is a no-brainer.
3. Robert Quinn was not going to get the Chicago Bears a high pick
There have been some fans expecting to see Robert Quinn fetch them a high pick. Those are the ones disappointed. To most, the reality is that a fourth-round pick is a fair return. We just wrote last week that the return for Quinn would not be a mind-blowing draw.
Quinn is having a down year, he is older, his contract is not great, and he is very likely to be a rental for the team acquiring him. Beyond that, the Eagles will use him as one of four in a rotation, and he is unlikely to start for the team with Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, and Brandon Graham.
They gave up the most and even they do not view him as their top rusher or even a starter. So, the demand was low, and teams were only viewing him as a rental who could rush rotationally.
The Chicago Bears were going to have to cut Robert Quinn this off-season if they did not move him this year. So, they could have got nothing, but instead got a fourth-round pick. Some fans will be mad that they had to eat some dead money, but they would have had to do that as well, and still get nothing back this offseason. Beyond that, it is better to eat the dead money now than to have it bleed into the next season when the books look much cleaner.
This was really a no-brainer when you think about it.
2. Chicago Bears are not pretending to be what they are not
The Chicago Bears could have taken that win against the New England Patriots and pretended. They are sitting at 3-4, and if you have not seen that means that they are technically in the thick of a playoff hunt.
They are a half of a game behind the Rams, only because the Rams had a bye week. Beyond that, they are right in the mix to get a wild card. Coming off of the most complete team win of the season the Chicago Bears could have raised the price for Robert Quinn and pretended that they would compete until the end of the season.
Instead, they looked in the mirror and knew who they were. They know that this year is just gravy, and next year is when the new regime will be in control and have things going their way.
Pretending to be what they are not would have only hurt them in the future. Fans will be disappointed if the defense takes a small step back this season, but if they get any sort of role player in the fourth round next year, and they have him on a great contract for four seasons, fans will forget Robert Quinn like they had amnesia.
The Chicago Bears are fighting for wins in the short term, but the front office has eyes on the big picture in the future. This is why they had to trade Robert Quinn.
1. Chicago Bears are giving younger players the time.
The reality is that the biggest winner from the Robert Quinn trade is Dominique Robinson. Trevis Gipson and Al-Quadin Muhammad rush from the opposite side, and it was Quinn platooning with the rookie Robinson.
This goes back to the Chicago Bears knowing exactly who they are. They are a team that should be giving the rookie who has shown flashes as many chances to prove himself as possible. Robinson has hit in flashes, but they need to see if he can handle more work.
Beyond that, they need to track his growth from his first real start to his final one this season. Now that he is not a backup rusher he should be able to work on moves, and set things up early in the game to work back to them later.
Robert Quinn gives you what he gives you, and you know exactly what he is going to provide. Robinson could fall on his face with a bigger workload or could be a huge hit, and a need that is crossed off of the list this offseason.
The Chicago Bears cannot live in the unknown and have to give their younger players as many chances as possible. This is why trading Robert Quinn had to be done as soon as possible.