The Bears keep saying the same thing about Tyson Bagent: they’re comfortable with him. Caleb Williams is the franchise quarterback, but Chicago also knows the backup spot matters, and Bagent has been viewed as a steady option behind him.
That’s why the recent buzz around a possible trade is tricky. Other teams could come back asking about Bagent, but the real problem for Chicago is simple: the Bears may value him more than anyone else does.
Chicago already showed how much it thinks of Bagent by giving him a two-year, $10 million deal when multiple teams were trying to land him. Still, he remains an unproven backup, which means the market probably won’t go much higher than a late-round pick. That kind of offer likely won’t get Ryan Poles moving.
If Bagent gets a chance to start and performs well over the next couple of weeks, his standing inside the building could rise even more. It could also help his trade value, but even then, a deal would probably take a massive offer for the Bears to seriously consider it.
For now, a trade looks unlikely unless something unexpected happens. Teams looking for quarterback help may have cheaper paths to explore, including Anthony Richardson, Dillon Gabriel, or even Shedeur Sanders. And if a team wants to spend big on a backup, the source of that kind of move might be Mac Jones, who already has battle-tested experience and could cost a second-round pick.
That’s why the noise around Bagent may not amount to much. Chicago might love the idea of getting a second- or third-round pick for Caleb Williams’ backup, but the reality is that no general manager is likely to pay that price.
So the Bears may simply stay put with three veteran quarterbacks in what looks like the most stacked room in football. For now, that’s not a problem. If anything, it’s the kind of depth plenty of teams would love to have.
In Other News...
Bears May Finally Be Closing In On Needed O-Line Relief
Braxton Jones knee injury has pushed the Bears deeper into their early-season left tackle shuffle, and head coach Ben Johnson said the veteran is week-to-week after missing practice ahead of Week 4. Chicago has already been forced to adjust up front, and the timing is not ideal with the New York Jets coming to town and the offensive line still trying to settle into something closer to a stable rotation.
Ozzy Trapilo is also trending in a better direction, as he was not listed on the Week 4 injury report for the first time this season and is close to returning to play. For now, Theo Benedet is expected to get the start at left tackle against the Jets, giving the Bears another look at a position that has been anything but settled as they try to protect the edge and keep the offense on track. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Finally Got The Pass Rush Help Montez Sweat Needed
The Bears spent the offseason standing pat at edge rusher, choosing to lean on Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker to carry the load into the 2026 season. It was a fair question at the time, especially after Sweat arrived with the expectation that he would be the centerpiece of the pass rush, but the early returns have at least given Chicago something it badly needed: production from multiple spots.
Through the first three games, Sweat has been active with nine total pressures and two sacks, while Odeyingbo has set the pace with 11 pressures and two sacks of his own. Booker has chipped in five pressures and one sack, and both young rushers made their presence felt in the recent win over the Eagles, a sign that the Bears may finally have enough help around Sweat to make the front seven more than a one-man bet. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Kelce Sees Why Caleb Williams Could Return To A Better Bears Offense
The Bears win over the Eagles offered a useful snapshot of how far the offense can travel when it is built around structure and support, even with Case Keenum starting at quarterback. Jason Kelce came away impressed with what Ben Johnson is putting together, calling the offensive coordinator one of the NFLs best schemers and pointing to the way the Bears line helped the offense function cleanly throughout the game.
For Chicago, the larger takeaway is what that kind of setup could mean when Caleb Williams is back in the huddle. Kelces read was that Johnsons system does a strong job of helping the quarterback rather than asking him to carry everything himself, and that is a promising sign for a young passer trying to grow into a more stable offense. The Bears have been looking for exactly that kind of foundation, and this performance suggested it may be taking shape. [Read more 🡒]