Bears landing Nick Foles would mean end of Mitch Trubisky

The Bears should be looking for an upgrade under center, but if they trade for Nick Foles that will definitely mean the end for Mitch Trubisky.

The Chicago Bears look set to walk back their commitment to Mitch Trubisky as their starting quarterback, with a report they would pursue a veteran quarterback.

Now, according to Michael Lombardi of The Athletic, they are trying to get involved in the trade market for Nick Foles.

The rebuild seems to be all the way on in Jacksonville, including rumors it would like to trade Foles one year (and four games) into a four-year, $88 million deal and go with Gardner Minshew as the starting quarterback. Trading Foles would trigger an $18.75 million cap charge for them, and only clear a shade over $3 million in cap space.

The Jaguars would probably have to include a draft pick to get rid of him, and convince a team to take on a fully guaranteed $15.125 million salary for 2020.

The Bears have reportedly had talks with Teddy Bridgewater early in the legal tampering period, and he would definitely be an upgrade as he stepped in to replace Trubisky. Even someone like Jameis Winston, if only based on upside, would be regarded as an upgrade over Trubisky if Chicago signed him.

But Foles is an entirely different case. Outside of one full season and a run to Super Bowl MVP in two separate stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, he has been a below average, backup caliber quarterback. Making a trade for him, to say nothing of the salary they’d take on, would say it all about how the Bears really regard Trubisky.

The Bears also have a decision looming on Trubisky’s fifth year option for 2021. The odds they pick that up are dwindling at this point, and a lateral move to add Foles would immediately seal Trubisky’s status and fate as the quarterback in Chicago.