Navigating the trade market can be such a tightrope walk for NFL teams. Do it just right and you can emerge on the other side much stronger than before. One misstep though and it can be a long drop to the bottom. The Chicago Bears know this reality well, especially when it comes to deal for quarterbacks. They've done it a few times without the results they'd hoped for.
Rick Mirer was a disaster back in the 1990s. Jay Cutler looked like a hit early one but steadily declined over the past five years. Now he's 33 and expected to be gone within the next month or so. Thus the Bears are faced with the same crossroads again. Do they venture down the trade avenue another time or take their chances in the draft?
Rumors persist that the team would prefer to find a younger veteran option with some experience. Somebody who can start right away and hopefully win them some ball games. Remember, John Fox is 9-23 in his first two seasons. He needs to start winning soon. This is why most still expect the Bears to make a determined push for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Mike Sando of ESPN talked to a team executive recently who informed him that expectations around the league indicate a higher degree of trades in 2017. A big part of that being because of the higher number of young GMs, who are more adventurous. Another reason being a comparatively weak free agent class and also the new NFL rule that compensatory picks are now tradeable. Thus teams have more ammunition to burn.
So Sando decide to put forth some deals he can see happening within the next couple weeks. The very first one he lists involves the Bears making a play for Jimmy Garoppolo from New England.
"The Chicago Bears acquire QB Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots for 2017 and 2018 second-round choices. Chicago lands its next quarterback without giving up the third overall pick in the draft, while the Patriots acquire the second-round picks they seem to covet (New England has used a league-high 16 picks in second rounds over the past 10 drafts). New England could press for more in return."This is the absolute ideal scenario for Chicago. They don't have to give up their #3 overall pick or a future first rounder. They are free to use it on the best player available, be it a defensive player or perhaps a wide receiver to replace Alshon Jeffery. At the same time they get the QB they covet. A 25-year old Illinois native who already has some starting experience and features a skill set that fits in quite well with the Bears' system. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Every-Jimmy-Garoppolo-Throw-Week-2-Dolphins-vs-Patriots-NFL.mp4"][/video] In return the Patriots more than double the original price they paid for Garoppolo back in 2014. It's a very fair deal for both sides. Unfortunately New England holds the cards. They could easily choose to keep Garoppolo for another year and just franchise tag him in 2018. Similar to how they operated with Matt Cassel back in 2009. Then there is also the lingering threat of the Cleveland Browns. Not only are they rumored to covet Jimmy too, they have far more ammunition with which to pursue him. Two first round picks, two second round picks and a third round pick to be exact. If they made a determined push, the price for Garoppolo would skyrocket. At that point either the Bears give up a king's ransom or go with an alternative. Everything will come down to what they and the 49ers do. If they don't press too hard, this proposed Bears Jimmy Garoppolo deal might be possible.
