The 2026 NFL Combine certainly delivered all the goods, as the Chicago Bears were involved in many trade rumors, including one involving their backup quarterback, Tyson Bagent.
Before the combine even began, Bagent was already tied to the Arizona Cardinals as a team that had interest in trading for him, but that talk got intensified at the combine as he was one of four Bears who were a part of trade talks. ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler added to the Bagent chatter with what he heard at the combine.
"Don't be surprised to see movement with some backup QBs whom teams might want to add as a developmental option or in a depth role. Anthony Richardson Sr. got headlines late in the week after he got permission from Indianapolis to seek a trade, but it's unclear whether there will be a market for him. Early in the week, there was some talk of the Bears discussing Tyson Bagent's availability. Teams that have better-known backups entering the final years of their contracts -- such as Bagent in Chicago, Tanner McKee in Philadelphia, Will Levis in Tennessee, Davis Mills in Houston, Jarrett Stidham in Denver, etc. -- are seeing if there's interest and whether they can get trade value out of this offseason's odd QB market."
Tyson Bagent continues to be apart of trade talks with Bears
After going undrafted in 2023, Bagent quickly found himself in action, replacing Justin Fields, who got injured. Bagent ended up going 2-2 as the starter and completed 65.7% of his passes for 859 yards and three touchdowns to six interceptions, adding 109 rushing yards and two touchdowns in five games.
With Fields' departure and Caleb Williams' arrival, Bagent stuck around in Chicago to be the backup under Matt Eberflus in 2024 and Ben Johnson in 2025. He completed five of six passes for 58 yards in the last two seasons.
The speculation is that the Bears are looking for a second-round pick for Bagent. While some might see it as a high cost for a career-long backup quarterback, there has been a high demand for quarterbacks in the NFL, and this offseason will be busy with new faces in new places.
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Bears general manager Ryan Poles certainly won't make it easy for any team to trade for Bagent, as he is a fan favorite and someone Johnson admires. Whether he actually gets traded is another part of the equation that won't be solved for a bit.