By Jordan Long
The Chicago Bears ended last season at 8-8, failing to reach the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive year. They are looking to improve the backup quarterback position. They would like a veteran quarterback who has NFL experience. It could also lead to a competition during training camp to be the #1 quarterback on the depth chart. The Bears are targeting two quarterbacks, Case Keenum and Andy Dalton.
Right now, the Bears have their starter in Mitchell Trubisky. He is the only quarterback under contract for the 2020 season. Trubisky passed for 3,138 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
Trubisky’s problem was sacks and interceptions. The Bears offensive line couldn’t keep defenses from pressuring Trubisky. He was running for his life. Defenses sacked him 38 times, the most in his 3-year NFL career. When defenders were chasing him, he didn’t have time to set his feet to throw the ball to his receiver. These were overthrows or he tossed the ball into coverage for interceptions, totaling 10.
The Bears know the quarterback position is a need for this team. Keenum has played in the NFL for 7 years. Last year Keenum suited up for the Washington Redskins. His record was a disappointing 1-7. He passed for 1,707 yards with 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
In his career, Keenum has totaled 14,386 passing yards with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. He rarely forces the football downfield into coverage. Keenum is a free agent. The Bears could offer him a contract anywhere from $4 million to $10 million. Keenum may not win the starting job because he needs to learn the offense, but he is a suitable backup.
Dalton is the better of the two quarterbacks. He has played 9 years in the NFL, all with the Cincinnati Bengals. Last year was a tough season for Dalton. He didn’t have his top receiver A.J. Green who missed the year with torn ligaments in his left ankle which occurred in the first practice of the preseason. Dalton was a disappointing 2-11 under center for the Bengals. Dalton still managed to find his open receivers with 3,494 yards passing and 16 touchdowns. His problem was turnovers. Dalton kept forcing the ball into double coverage and those were intercepted 14 times.
Dalton is going to have a larger price tag than Keenum. He is under contract for 1 more year which is worth $17.5 million, a lot for the Bears to take on. The Bears would also have to trade for him which could be anywhere between a 2nd, 3rd, or a 4th round pick plus a 5th or 6th in this years’ NFL Draft.
Dalton wants to be a starter in the NFL. The Bears aren’t the best landing spot for him because they have Trubisky. Cincinnati should deal him to a team who needs a starting quarterback.
The Bears’ other options in free agency include Philip Rivers, Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tannehill, and Trevor Siemian. All of them have quarterback experience in the NFL. The Bears may draft one as well. Whoever they draft might be the 3rd quarterback on the roster but can learn the NFL game. The Bears have a lot of possibilities to add depth to the quarterback position.
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