Nobody knows yet if Tyson Bagent is anything serious. He's started one game. While he played well, that isn't enough to go on regarding his future with the Chicago Bears. As of right now, all they know is they probably have a great long-term backup option. That in itself is a significant victory for the organization. Perhaps Bagent will push the narrative further if he can upset the Chargers in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Until then, this team still belongs to Justin Fields for the time being. However, things could change next off-season.
One subplot to this Bagent situation is how his arrival offers insight into the priorities GM Ryan Poles and the coaching staff will have if they decide to draft a quarterback next April. Based on what we know of his ability and background, these are some numbers that matter most.
- Good size (6'3, 220 lbs)
- Accurate (68.6 completion %)
- Decision-making (3.31-to-1 TD-INT ratio)
- Pocket poise (2.75 seconds from snap to throw)
- Experienced (started 53 games)
The Bears don't seem to place a huge emphasis on arm strength or elite mobility. They don't mind a good athlete, but they prepare somebody with good size, accuracy, is calm in the pocket and keeps the football out of danger. They also seem to like guys that threw the football a lot, meaning they started several games. With these parameters in mind, here are some 2024 prospects that come the closest to the profile.
Tyson Bagent will likely lead the Bears to these names.
Caleb Williams (USC)
- 6'1, 218 lbs
- 67.0 completion %
- 6.61-to-1 TD-INT ratio
- 30 starts
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
- 6'3, 220 lbs
- 68.3 completion %
- 3.92-to-1 TD-INT ratio
- 38 starts
Bo Nix (Oregon)
- 6'3, 215 lbs
- 65.0 completion %
- 3.62-to-1 TD-INT ratio
- 54 starts
Jayden Daniels (LSU)
- 6'3, 185 lbs
- 66.0 completion %
- 3.89-to-1 TD-INT ratio
- 51 starts
No one will meet every threshold to perfection. Each has some question marks to sort through. Williams is two inches shorter than preferred and tends to make his biggest plays outside the pocket. Penix has a lengthy injury history from his time in Indiana. Nix will be 24 years old next February. Daniels is on the thinner side and has a habit of opening himself up to big hits.
Much of this comes down to where the Bears pick in the draft. If they maintain control of #1 overall, it feels likely Williams will be the pick. He checks enough of their boxes to be worth the risk. However, if they fall out of that range, the other three become the ones to watch. Best guess is Nix might be the guy they end up going with. He's the most experienced, has a good health history, and thrives with many of the offensive concepts they run in their offense. It would be a great fit. That is unless Tyson Bagent gets there first.
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