Bears latest free agent move adds even more fire to the Tyson Bagent trade rumors with one viable team left ready to strike
The Chicago Bears can justify giving up Tyson Bagent now if the right offer comes in.
The Chicago Bears reached another agreement with one of their own in free agency and plan to bring quarterback Case Keenum back on a two-year, $5.5 million deal that has a max value of $8 million.
The structure of this contract is intriguing. Last offseason Keenum signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Bears to be a veteran voice in the room for starting quarterback Caleb Williams and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
Bears pay up to keep a valuable locker room voice on the roster at the quarterback position
Keenum proved to be a valuable resource behind the scenes for the entire team and someone head coach Ben Johnson appreciated having in the building last year. Bringing him back, either as a player or as a coach, always seemed like a logical move.
“He’s been an integral part of what we’ve done,” Johnson said of Keenum. “He’s been tremendous in terms of Caleb’s growth. That was really the thought process of bringing him in, a guy with skins on the wall. He’s played in big games himself at a high level. He’s won big games. He’s lost big games. His experience has been something that all these young players can really lean into. . .
The vision we had bringing him in, it’s been pretty incredible. I give Ryan (Poles) a lot of credit for that. As we’re talking about, in the springtime, how do we best help our young quarterback grow and develop, Case’s name came up pretty quickly in that process and it’s just been a phenomenal fit. I know if he ever needed to play, I know he could still play at a high level too. We see that every day at practice as well.”
Case Keenum re-signing at this new rate could make Tyson Bagent an expendable asset
Keenum’s two-year deal is important to note here, especially when you circle back to the Bagent trade discussions going around at the NFL Combine a few weeks back. Bringing Keenum back doesn’t confirm Bagent is out of the door, but it does make Bagent an expendable asset.
One logical team comes to mind if the Bears move Bagent and that team is the New York Jets. The Arizona Cardinals were the first team connected to Bagent and just missed out on Malik Willis, the big-name free agent target who signed with the Miami Dolphins a few hours ago, but the team did recently sign veteran QB Gardner Minshew and seem content entering the season with him as the backup behind Jacoby Brissett.
Desperation could be starting to seep in for the Jets and the Bears are making the necessary moves to prepare to deal Bagent for a solid offer, which could be as high as a second-round pick. And that might mean Bagent competing against Justin Fields, unless the former Bears starter gets released.
After re-signing Keenum, the Bears should be more comfortable flipping Bagent for a Day 2 pick and then drafting a late-round option to develop behind Williams and Keenum.
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