While the Chicago Bears have publicly committed to Mitchell Trubisky as the starter for 2020, the front office must find significant competition to challenge him next season. In an offseason with a legendary offering of free-agent quarterbacks, Chicago could look towards a surprising name to challenge Trubisky.
The Bears could potentially look into Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, per The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones. The Bengals benched Dalton on his birthday this past season and the 32-year-old reportedly sought a move out of Cincinnati before the NFL’s trade deadline.
Now with the Bengals widely expected to take Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, Cincinnati could move on from its longtime quarterback. The team would also gain $17 million in cap space by cutting or trading him.
Dalton, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, couldn’t overcome a roster with an underwhelming supporting cast and one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. A move to Chicago might be the perfect opportunity for him to compete for a starting spot and he would provide real competition for Trubisky.
While the Bears might continue to support Trubisky for now, the front office can’t leave the offseason without finding a better plan behind him. Dalton could ultimately be the affordable solution for a team that will head into the 2020 season with playoff aspirations.