The Bears reportedly are zeroing in on a new quarterback.
But which one depends upon whom you ask.
Within the first few hours of the free-agent negotiating period Monday, the Bears were linked to the Saints' Teddy Bridgewater, the Bengals' Andy Dalton and the Jaguars' Nick Foles.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio first reported the Bears were talking to Bridgewater about a deal that would make him the new starter over Mitch Trubisky. Initial numbers on a contract for Bridgewater would be in the range of $21 million per year, Florio reported.
Of course, the Bears aren't Bridgewater's only suitors. The Buccaneers, who are rumored to be vying for Tom Brady, could turn to Bridgewater should Brady sign elsewhere. And not long after Florio's report, NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo indicated he didn't think Bridgewater would land with the Bears.
A source then told the Tribune that the Bears reached out to the Bengals and Jaguars about trade possibilities for Dalton or Foles.
Bridgewater, 27, went 5-0 in five starts with the Saints in 2019 while Drew Brees was injured. That included a 36-25 victory over the Bears.
He was a first-round pick by the Vikings in 2014 and started 28 games for them before he suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2016. Bridgewater has started six games since the knee injury. He completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,384 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions for the Saints in 2019.
After nine seasons with the Bengals, Dalton, 32, could be headed to a new home. The Bengals have the top pick in the draft and might select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
Dalton started 13 games in 2019, completing 59.5% of his passes for 3,494 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Foles, 31, signed a four-year, $88 million contract with the Jaguars last March, but he broke his collarbone in Week 1. Rookie Gardner Minshew filled in well over the next nine games. Foles returned to start three games in mid-November but was benched in favor of Minshew.
