Mitchell Trubisky faces an uphill battle to prolong his Chicago Bears career. The fourth-year quarterback doesn’t appear to have faith from within the organization, as the the Bears declined his fifth-year option and brought in veteran Nick Foles to possibly replace him.
The former No. 2 overall pick had his worst season as a pro in 2019, where he completed 63.2% of his passes for 3,138 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for a 83.0 passer rating.
But Trubisky’s struggles in reading defenses, completing intermediate passes and just being a consistent passer were the most concerning aspects of his game. Especially as his fellow 2017 classmates Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are thriving in the NFL.
Bleacher Report stated the obvious in naming Trubisky the top player facing a make-or-break season in 2020, where his first challenge comes in beating out Foles for the starting quarterback job.
The Chicago Bears declined quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s fifth-year option. This doesn’t mean the team will move on from him, but that’s a notable decision on the No. 2 overall pick from the 2017 draft.
After three terms, Trubisky could lose his starting job to Nick Foles, whom the club acquired via trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. If Trubisky puts together a solid campaign, the Bears may retain him on a short-term deal.
Chicago is on the hook for $21 million in dead cap for the remaining three years of Foles’ contract, so Trubisky could be on a short leash with a high-priced backup on the roster. Trubisky’s 2020 performance could also determine whether he’s able to land a starting job with a new team in 2021.
While Trubisky was the biggest problem, he wasn’t the only issue on offense in 2019. The Bears had one of the worst offenses in the league last season due to a lack of a run game, struggles at tight end and offensive line and play-calling.
Trubisky serves to benefit from some of the offseason additions the Bears have made this offseason, including tight ends Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet, as well as his security blanket in receiver Allen Robinson. The additions of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo will also be valuable resources for Trubisky.
