3 free agents the Bears should avoid in the 2021 offseason

1. Bears free agents to avoid – QB Mitchell Trubisky

This one feels obvious but it may not be to a front office that has an investment in Trubisky’s success. Chicago declined to pick up Trubisky’s fifth-year option last spring and benched him for Nick Foles early in the season, turning back to Trubisky by the end of the year when the ineffective Foles was injured.

Trubisky did play a bit better down the stretch but his performance was a bit of fool’s gold since the Bears beat up on some pathetic defenses. Matchups against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 and the Saints on Wild Card weekend exposed Trubisky’s shortcomings, leaving Chicago in a tricky spot in free agency.

There is simply no way that the Bears can settle for retaining Trubisky when there will be a lot of options on a quarterback market that could be wild in the offseason. Whether it is exploring the trade market for Deshaun Watson or another veteran like Derek Carr. signing a free agent like Jameis Winston or drafting a quarterback in the first round, there are too many options with greater appeal than overpaying Trubisky after a solid finish to the season.

It has become clear that Pace made a mistake in the 2017 NFL Draft by falling in love with Trubisky, costing the Bears a chance at either Watson or Patrick Mahomes. There is no reason to compound the mistake by signing Trubisky to a long-term deal he didn’t earn, which could set the franchise back years in the process.