The Chicago Bears showed how much they value Tyson Bagent when they gave him a contract extension last August. Everything head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles has said backs up that sentiment, right through when trade rumors surfaced early this offseason.
Asked about the possibility of trading Bagent at the NFL Combine, Johnson jokingly fake-coughed a "no" before turning more serious.
"I love Tyson. That's one that kind of pulls at your hearstrings a little bit, because he's someone that you care about so deeply. And he's a hell of a football player, that at some point, you wanna see have a chance to do it himself."
"We'll always do what’s best for our team and our organization. I do think there's a lot of merit to having a strong No. 2 quarterback, which, he certainly fits that bill. I’m of the mind that he's probably one of the best 32 in the NFL. His preseason tape over that last few years has (probably) confirmed that, in my opinion."
"But, if I took myself out of the equation, I want what's best for him. If he would like an opportunity to start, I certainly hope he can get that somewhere."
The Bears aren't at all inclined to trade Bagent, but if they can get a nice return, it'd be hard to turn away from it. Rumors have naturally faded lately, especially as the most prominent rumored suitor (the Arizona Cardinals) added a free agent quarterback (Gardner Minshew) and may be eyeing the second-best quarterback in this draft class, Ty Simpson.
In time, the Bears may get a new Tyson Bagent trade suitor
If the Cardinals miss out on Simpson, and it may take trading back up into the first round if they really want him, they could just "embrace the tank" in 2026 with an eye on a better quarterback class in 2027. They could also re-engage the Bears about Bagent.
But, in time, another suitor for Bagent may emerge and they are gaining buzz from some analysts.
Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers subjected themselves to Aaron Rodgers' whims. Entering this offseason, general manager Omar Khan said he didn't expect the situation to drag on like it did last year, and in March, owner Art Rooney II said they expected to have an answer before the draft.
To kick off draft week, with "Good Morning Football" co-host Kyle Brandt a healthy skeptic, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero suggested Rodgers' decision may still be weeks away, and he has not told the Steelers anything one way or the other.
But what if the Steelers get tired of waiting for Rodgers to tell them/officially announce a decision he has probably already made in his mind, and they aren't inclined to have Will Howard or Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback in 2026? And as another potential landing spot for Simpson, what if they miss out on him in the draft?
While bottoming out and fully resetting might be overdue for them, the Steelers don't do it, and the hiring of Mike McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin showed that it isn't happening this year. So if Rodgers isn't going to be the guy, it's hard to envision Howard, Rudolph, or a rookie being their desired answer under center with an eye on remaining competitive next season.
Read more: Bears assistant GM says it all about why it's different with Ryan Poles, Ben Johnson
Bagent, with four regular season starts and 149 regular season pass attempts on his resume, is largely an unknown quantity himself. But if Rodgers isn't coming back, and the draft takes shape a certain way, a lack of remaining viable options may push the Steelers toward making a trade offer the Bears will have a hard time turning down.
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