NFL Insider clears up the Robert Quinn-Bears trade rumors
CHICAGO – The Bears traded Khalil Mack back in March, so what would stop them parting ways with their second-best pass rusher, Robert Quinn, as well? Ryan Poles said in March that notion "hasn't come up", but the idea received new life Tuesday when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported teams are "sniffing around" in regard […]
CHICAGO – The Bears traded Khalil Mack back in March, so what would stop them parting ways with their second-best pass rusher, Robert Quinn, as well?
Ryan Poles said in March that notion "hasn't come up", but the idea received new life Tuesday when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported teams are "sniffing around" in regard to working out a trade for the 2021 Pro Bowler.
Well, what Rapoport giveth, he taketh away. The NFL Insider then came out Wednesday morning with a report -from the Bears' vantage point- stating Chicago isn't trying to trade Quinn.
It makes more sense for the Bears to keep Quinn
Per Over The Cap, Quinn counts a little over $17.1 million against the cap in 2022. The Bears save $4.425 million if trade him before June 1. Quinn is coming off a Pro Bowl season where he recorded 18.5 sacks, the second-highest amount of his career. What's even more impressive is he recorded 13.0 of those sacks after Khalil Mack bowed out for the season in Week 8 with a foot issue.
The Bears, however, aren't in cap trouble, so draft capital is what moves the needle most when it comes to a Quinn trade. How much could the Bears really get for Quinn?
Quinn comes with three years left on his deal and the receiving team will pay salaries of $12.9, $14, and $13 million each year. Even though he had a great 2021, that's still a good chunk for a player who turns 32 in May. The Bears only received a second-rounder and 2023 sixth-rounder for Mack, which probably means the Bears aren't even going to get that for Quinn. The highest pick will likely be a third round pick and maybe a lower end pick if the Bears want to toss something in to get more picks.
Sure, the Bears could use an extra third-rounder this year, but they could also use a veteran leader who's shown he's still capable of producing at high level. They could afford to let either Mack or Quinn go, but letting both go would be a mistake. Especially when considering the minimal amount of return in draft capital and even savings on the Bears' end of the spectrum. And as mentioned earlier, they can afford him. His cap hits are pretty high, but they're not killing the team.
Quinn is also returning to a 4-3 system under Eberflus, which is what he played in for almost his entire career before arriving in Chicago. He recorded 80.5 of his 101.0 career sacks in that system, which should bode well for the Bears in 2022.
There are just too many factors that work in Quinn's favor, which should prevent a trade, ultimately. And the Bears should be better off for it.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
