Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent quickly became a fan favorite and has held his own as the backup over the last few years. Unfortunately, the rest of the media continues to overlook this man's greatness.
CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin shared his top 10 rankings of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Bagent barely made the list, coming in at number 10.
"Freshly locked up as Caleb Williams' top backup, the former undrafted Division II product has drawn rave internal reviews for his scrappy work ethic and fast footwork. Despite his underdog entry to the NFL, the pro stage didn't look too big for him when he won a start in place of the injured Justin Fields back in 2023. His grit figures to keep him close with new coach Ben Johnson."
Bagent is coming off his big two-year, $10 million contract extension signed during the preseason. He had a stellar preseason, throwing for 511 yards and five touchdowns with one interception in three games.
Bears have an elite backup quarterback as the media won't point out
His success from Division II to the NFL has been remarkable to watch. Bears fans couldn't help but have some teary eyes when he gave a powerful press conference when speaking about his dad after signing his extension.
Despite the touchdown-to-interception ratio not looking the best at three touchdowns to six picks, Bagent has looked good in his four career starts at quarterback. He went 2-2 as the starter in 2023, as he completed over 65% of his passes and added two rushing scores.
It's time to start having a conversation about Bagent not only being in the top 10, but it should be in the conversation of the top five. He could walk into New Orleans today and be the starting quarterback there in a hurry.
Bagent has proven his ability to adjust to different offenses. He has looked like a perfect fit for Bears head coach Ben Johnson's system in the short time they have worked together.
Read more: Micah Parsons trade could impact Bears' development of Caleb Williams
Maybe someday Bagent will get a real shot at starting, but Bears fans have to be happy to have him in Chicago backing up Caleb Williams.