INDIANAPOLIS — Teams have called the Bears this offseason trying to trade for backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
General manager Ryan Poles hasn’t ruled out the possibility of doing just that. Rather than shoot down the possibility Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Poles called any potential move an “interesting dynamic that we’re going to have to work through.”
Poles and coach Ben Johnson so value Bagent that they gave him a two-year, $10 million extension last year that runs though the end of the 2027 season. The Bears haven’t needed him the last two years, though — with Caleb Williams making every start, Bagent has thrown just six passes.
Williams’ perfect run of health won’t continue forever, though. If the Bears trade him, they’d have to find a solid backup to take his place.
The Bears anticipated teams would call about Bagent’s availability given a weak free agent and rookie class at quarterback.
Trading him would probably bring back a Day 2 draft pick.
“The tough thing is, with what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson, that’s a really tough decision for us,” Poles said. “But for Tyson as well, I think he would have an opportunity to go and perform for a team and do some really good things.
“But again, you’ve got to weigh the short-term and the long-term. Now, what’s the cost for replacement? We spent a lot of time developing him. Ben spent a lot of time developing him.”
