Beyond trade rumors, discover the difficult decision facing the Bears regarding their beloved backup QB and his future potential.
The Chicago Bears are weighing their options when it comes to backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
Bagent has been with the Bears since 2023 after going undrafted in that year's draft. He found his way to the NFL after playing college football for Shepherd University, a Division II school in West Virginia.
He started four games as a rookie for the Bears after Justin Fields went down with an injury. He hasn't seen the field much since the team drafted Caleb Williams in 2024.
News broke that the Arizona Cardinals were interested in Bagent, but General Manager Ryan Poles confirmed that the Bears have been in talks with multiple teams.
Poles went on to mention how tough a decision it is for the franchise because of how well-liked Bagent is. However, he acknowledged that if the right opportunity arose, he was confident Bagent could thrive.
Head coach Ben Johnson discussed the human element behind the Bagent situation. He would obviously love to have him back in a Bears uniform for 2026, but at the same time wants him to succeed and understands that Chicago may not be the best place for him to do that.
If Bagent wants to compete for a starting role elsewhere, Johnson knows that the Bears aren't the best spot for that.
"I love Tyson," Johnson said. "That's one that kinda pulls at your heartstrings a little bit, because it's someone that you care about so deeply, and he's a hell of a football player. At some point, you want to see him 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 quarterbacks in the NFL. His preseason tape has probably confirmed that over the last two years, in my opinion. 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."
We've seen this happen many times in the NFL. There are players beloved by their respective franchises, but at the end of the day, the organization decides to let them go because it knows there are better opportunities out there than it can offer.
Would it be great to see Bagent back with the Bears in 2026? Absolutely. Are there better places for him to earn a starting job than Chicago? Yes.
He proved his worth as a backup in 2023 when he took over for Fields in those five games. He led the Bears to a 2-2 record and finished with 786 passing yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
The potential is there, and he is still just 25. If the Bears do move on from him, he would have to be traded, since he has more time left on his contract. Bagent is under a two-year, $10 million contract that expires in 2028, courtesy of Spotrac.
Getting his contract off the books would free up $3.75 million in cap space for the Bears as well. (via Over The Cap)
Even if the return isn't that great for Bagent, don't be surprised if the Bears decide to part ways with the quarterback.
Having a reliable backup quarterback in this league is invaluable, but giving him the best chance to earn a starting role isn't something Chicago can give Bagent.