We’re obviously keeping an obsessive eye on Russell Wilson. However, we can’t afford to have tunnel vision on just one quarterback. Not when we’re there is uncertainty regarding his availability. And even if there was *dꦚefinitely* going to be movement, it might not happen immওediately.
With that in mind, I’d like to remind you that there are other available quarterbacks on the market. In fact, who could be on the Bears’ radar if their attempts to snag Wilson fall short: free agents Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andy Dalton.
Both QBs fall under the umbrella of a one-year plug if other pursuits fail, which is hardly a glowing review given the other rumored names on the Bears radar, but that should serve as a reality check for where this front office could be shopping when free agency opens🍎 up if they fail elsewhere.
Perhaps most importantly,🦄 it’s a reminder of what happens when you ꧂whiff at multiple swings at the quarterback position.
In any case, Fitzpatrick is a “gun-for-hire” as described in that ESPN piece, and with good reason. The 38-year-old quarterback has taken snaps for eight teams in a career that began with the Rams back in 2005. You know a guy has been in the league for a minute when his Rams stint came in St. Louis. Back to the present day, Fitzpatrick’s next team will be his seventh in 10 years. The well-traveled Harvard product has shown he can ste🍒ward an offense as a stop-gap. And that he’s done it while simultaneously serving as a mentor for a young quarterback makes his résumé all 🔜the more intriguing.
Dalton, 33, was a rumored Bears target last offseason. In fact, the Bears were reportedly close to making a trade with the Bengals when they were on the hunt for a🅺 quarterback at this time a year ago. No deal came, 🃏the Bears ultimately chose Foles, and Dalton went to Dallas after being cut by Cincinnati.
Dalton was underwhelming with the Cowboys last year, completing 64.9 percent of his p𒐪asses, posting an 87.3 passer rating, and throwing for 14 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. None of that is inspiring enough to justify a push to acquire him. And even if there is a shred of value in having a history with Bears Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor, it’s still not eno🎃ugh to make him a free agent draw.
I think we’ll get some clarity this week about how the Bears’ will go about addressing the quarterback position. Obviously, making a splash trade would speak volumes in the most obvious ways. But a moderate contract to a place-holder starter such as Fitzpatrick or Dalton wouldn’t necessarily be dead end.
Signing one of those two players could still position the Bears for a big swing on Draft night. Maybe in the form of a trade up the board for an Uber-talented prospect such as Trey Lance. Or possibly another crack at a higher-profile QB who could be had by dangling four years worth of first-round picks. So let’s keep that in mind as Chicago attempts to navigate the free agent quarterback waters.
