Ryan Poles just hinted at a QB trade that could change Bears' draft plans

Three years ago, the Chicago Bears still had a quarterback conundrum. We weren't sure if Justin Fields was going to pan out, but the Bears also picked up an undrafted free agent named Tyson Bagent.

Since being scooped up by the Bears, the former Shepherd standout has become one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. And, at just 25 years old, his future could truly hold many different paths in this league.

At the NFL Combine, Bears general manager Ryan Poles happened to be asked about Bagent and whether the Bears would consider trading him, especially considering quarterback-needy teams and not enough solutions available via the 2026 NFL Draft.

"We've gotten a few calls there."

Bears could be trading Tyson Bagent in the offseason

To no Bears fan's surprise, the Bears have indeed received trade interest on Bagent. The door is open.

Poles went on about why this would be a difficult decision if the Bears ended up parting with their backup quarterback.

"Obviously, the tough thing is, what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson. That's a really tough decision for us but for Tyson as well."

Any Bears fan who has kept up with the team over the last three seasons would tell you Bagent is one of their favorite characters on the roster. He is as fun, outgoing and genuine a player as the Bears have on this team.

And, in limited spurts during both the regular season and preseason, we've seen Bagent look very much like a future starter in this league. So, wouldn't this be the right time for Chicago to entertain offers?

If they did, it would significantly alter their draft plans.

You don't want to think about a Caleb Williams injury, but if it were to happen, having Bagent is a massive luxury. He'd be able to come in and do a lot of what Williams does, run the offense well, and earn the guys' confidence.

Starting over from scratch, at the backup quarterback position, could mean looking for a diamond in the rough like they once found with Bagent.

There are some options later on that could come into play if the Bears need another developmental backup. Someone like Clemson's Cade Klubnik would be one of those Day 3 prospects who, at one point, was viewed as a future starter in the NFL.

Chicago wouldn't want to sacrifice too much draft capital on a mere backup, but then again, they don't view Bagent as strictly just a backup. He's a possible starter in this league.

This year's quarterback class isn't all that good beyond Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, so the Bears would truly be taking a dart throw on a new backup if they didn't sign one via free agency.

Remember, Bagent signed a two-year extension that keeps him locked down through the 2027 season, so any team trading for him would have two years of his services, at the very least. Does that make him more of a valuable asset, considering his deal is only $10 million in total?

There are a lot of variables, here, but the main thing is: Bagent has trade interest.

We'll see if anything comes to fruition in the coming days and weeks.