The longer the
Chicago Bears run silent ahead of free agency, the more their fans are fixing to lose their minds. Especially in regards to the quarterback situation. One minute they're up and hopeful. The next they're dejected. It's not a fun place to be. They just want an answer so expectations for 2021 can be adjusted accordingly. This is where the Russell Wilson situation, once again, comes to light.
Will he be traded or not? The simple answer is nobody knows. The Seattle Seahawks are listening to offers but there's been little momentum towards any sort of deal. It isn't a secret things are tense between the star quarterback and team brass. Enough to where a breakup is more serious than ever before. Yet things have remained silent for weeks.
So what in the world is going on?
Dan Graziano of ESPN
offered some interesting updates on that. There are two key factors that might be holding things up in Seattle. The first is who they can get for a possible replacement if they do move on from Wilson. There isn't any clarity there yet. Rumors are Sam Darnold is a strong possibility but the Jets haven't shopped him. The belief is they're waiting until their evaluations of the 2021 draft class are complete.
Where it gets really intriguing is what comes next. Graziano surmises a trade is definitely not out of the question. However, if it were to happen it won't be for some time to come. He claims that Seattle would likely choose to wait until after June 1st to make a deal. The reason behind this? At that point, Wilson's dead cap hit in a trade would drop from $39 million to just $13 million. Far more manageable.
This explains why the Bears are active on the veteran free agent market with names like
Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, and Ryan Fitzpatrick. They need some sort of insurance in case their pursuit of Wilson or even Deshaun Watson fizzles out. Nick Foles isn't going to be that guy.
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Bears are not out on Russell Wilson but can't remain idle
Mitch Trubisky isn't coming back and they don't view Foles as a guy to move ahead with as a fallback option. Dalton filled in for the injured Dak Prescott last year in Dallas. He went 4-5 during that span with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also has ties to the Bears coaching staff, having
worked under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in Cincinnati for two seasons.
Would they be willing to wait until June though? That is a tough question. GM Ryan Pace is under a ton of pressure to get that position fixed. If he goes through March and April with Dalton as his only move? The backlash from Bears fans would be incredible. Then again it's not like he's a stranger to late offseason blockbusters. His trade for
Khalil Mack didn't happen until September of 2018.
If he believes Wilson is possible, he might be willing to wait it out.
The deciding event could end up being the NFL draft. If Chicago signs Dalton and doesn't select a QB early in April? That sends one of two messages. Either they're committed to Dalton as their guy or they're planning to stay after Russell Wilson into the summer. It would be incredibly bold and incredibly dangerous. Something Pace may not have the stomach for with his job on the line. Yet that is the state of things.
