Make no mistake. The Chicago Bears have no intention of declaring their plans at quarterback for this year until they absolutely have to. This is how GM Ryan Pace has always operated. He's a gamesman of the highest order. A true poker player who won't tip his hand to anybody. So what he said regarding Mitch Trubisky back in January about him being the 2020 starter? That could easily be true. It could also be a bunch of crap.
The only people who know for sure what Pace has planned are those close to him and even they might not have the full details. Rumors have swirled for weeks now that the GM isn't ready to give up on Trubisky yet. At the same time, there is also a lot of buzz that some in positions of power at Halas Hall have soured on the 25-year old. Speculation suggests it is most likely head coach Matt Nagy, but that is unconfirmed.
Albert Breer of the MMQB though believes there is a definitive set date where the team will make their stance on Trubisky clear. That will be May 3rd when the deadline to pick up his 5th year option arrives.
"The Bears will have to make their feelings clear on Mitch Trubisky in the spring, one way or the other, with their decision on his fifth-year option coming. Trubisky’s option number for 2021 projects to about $25 million, and it won’t be fully guaranteed until March of next year.
But it will be guaranteed for injury, and that puts Chicago in a similar spot to where the Redskins were with Robert Griffin in 2015."
Mitch Trubisky status will be set by then
Typically in recent years, teams have made their option decisions on quarterbacks right around the time of the NFL draft. Usually right before it. So if the Bears don't sign a notable free agent or make a trade for a prominent veteran in March, that will be the time to pay attention. If the Bears pick up the option, it means that what they said was the truth. Trubisky is their guy this season and their focus is on making it work. If they don't? Then he'll be fighting for his job and his future in the last year of his contract.
Smart money says Pace will pick up the option. Not necessarily just because he is committed to the young QB. More because it gives the team a bit of flexibility. Say there is a competition in 2020, Trubisky wins it and then rebounds for a nice season. By picking up the option, it gives the Bears one more year of control with a chance to work out a long-term extension. If it doesn't work out, then they are free to cut him loose with no salary cap ramifications next offseason.
Then again Pace wasn't afraid to apply pressure to Kyle Fuller back in 2017 by declining his option. That worked out really well. So be sure to mark May 3rd on the calendar.
