In 2017, the Bears were sold enough on Mitch Trubisky’s potential to be a franchise quarterback that they traded four future picks to move up and snatch him second overall in the draft. Now, three seasons later, that confidence appears to be wavering as the team declined to pick up the fifth-year option on the 25-year-old QB for the 2021 season.
By declining the option, general manager Ryan Pace has eliminated any obligation to Trubisky past this season and cleared the way for the team to move on from him if he underwhelms in 2020.
If Trubisky, who saw his yards (3,138), completion rate (63.2%), touchdowns (17) and rating (83) all drop in 2019, can turn things around, the Bears can always work out an extension with him or hit him with the franchise tag. If he struggles, the team can turn to 31-year-old Nick Foles after trading a 2020 fourth-round compensatory draft pick to the Jaguars for him during the offseason.
Trubisky will earn $4.423 million in 2020 and count $9.237 million against the salary cap.
Last month, Chicago’s coaching staff said they were planning an “open competition” at the quarterback position during training camp this summer. While Trubisky should theoretically have a leg up on Foles to start because he has experience within the team’s system, he will certainly have to earn the job with a strong training camp.
Whether it is Foles or Trubisky, the Bears are desperate to get some stability at a position that has been woefully lacking in talent in their organization for decades.
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