While it seems like the Chicago Bears may be moving on from Mitchell Trubisky after the 2020 season, recent history demonstrates that it’s plausible for him to have a bounce-back year. And not only that, but to potentially prove he’s the franchise quarterback that general manager Ryan Pace sold the farm to move up one spot in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Kyle Fuller was a highly-touted first-round pick in 2014, but after a promising rookie year, his play dropped off in 2015, followed by a lost season in 2016 to injury. Pace, too, declined Fuller’s fifth-year option, which seemed to light a fire under his cornerback.
Fuller would go onto register career-highs in pass deflections and tackles in 2017. After the Green Bay Packers signed him to their offer sheet, the Bears rewarded Fuller with a four-year contract extension. In 2018, the Virginia Tech product led the NFL in interceptions (7) and pass deflections.
Likewise, Trubisky has shown flashes of the player he is capable of, but he has struggled to show consistent play week-in and week-out. Last year was a disaster and disheartening for Bears fans, but the offensive line also regressed considerably.
Pace was aggressive in free agency, adding offensive line help in the form of Germain Ifedi, who struggled with penalties during his time in Seattle. However, he’s still 25 years old.
Improving the offensive line will go a long way towards helping Trubisky by not only keeping him upright, but a valuable running game can relieve some of the pressure as well.
That said, the leash will be short on Trubisky in 2020, as the Bears were proactive in trading for Nick Foles, who can hit the free-agent market after this year should he meet performance incentives.
I’m not saying it will happen, but the Bears would love to head into the 2020 offseason with the goal of extending Trubisky because it would mean that the team had a pretty darn good year.
[vertical-gallery id=444309]
[lawrence-related id=444752,444612,444535,444587]