Insider Believes This QB Is "A Nose Ahead" In Chicago Bears Race

The Chicago Bears can't put off their decision on a starting quarterback much longer. Head coach Matt Nagy has vowed he would not rush it. He wanted to squeeze every possible rep in training camp out Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky possible. A necessity with no preseason to help offer clarity. This decision will impact the entire 2020 season and maybe his future as a coach. He can't afford to get it wrong.

So who is in control of this competition? That depends on who you ask. Some feel it's Trubisky. Others Foles. Cordarrelle Patterson said Trubisky has had a "great" camp while plenty in the media believe Foles has looked better overall. The only people who can offer any sort of meaningful hit are the coaching staff and they're not saying a word.

Albert Breer of the MMQB though has an idea of where things stand with 12 days to go before the season begins.

"My sense is that Nick Foles is a nose ahead of Mitch Trubisky in the Bears’ QB competition. And it doesn’t surprise me, while we’re there, that Matt Nagy would want to try and keep quiet who the winner of that derby is until the very end (which is what he said he’ll do after Saturday’s scrimmage at Soldier Field)...

...In Chicago, as Nagy promised, the reps have been split, and if you’re going this far into the summer with it (we’re seven days away from a game week), then I understand wanting to keep the Lions, at the very least, in the dark on who they’re preparing to face in Week 1 for long as possible. In the end, I do think Foles will maintain the slim lead he has now."

Chicago Bears can't decide based on perceived obligations

A lot of people think the Bears should go with Trubisky. Not because they feel he's the better quarterback. It's more out of a sense of obligation. This team sank so much time and resources into the former #2 pick. They almost have to give him one last chance to see if he can pull the nose up. If it doesn't work out, then just switch to Foles.

This is basically what the Tennessee Titans did last year with Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill. Mariota got his shot, didn't take advantage, and Tannehill came in and took them to the AFC championship. That's great, but here is something to consider. Where would the Titans have ended up if they'd gone with Tannehill immediately? Instead of 9-7 with a wild card berth, perhaps they could've pushed for homefield advantage in the AFC. Then maybe the conference title game might've been different.

This is what the Bears need to keep in mind. It's not their job to accommodate Trubisky just because of prior investments. They need to start the best quarterback. Period. If that ends up being Foles, then so be it.