Free agency is just around the corner, and the Bears have several roster needs they’re expected to address this offseason. Quarterback and tight end are just a couple of positions Chicago could address when free agency opens on March 18.
In his latest MMQB column, Albert Breer indicated that the Bears will be more active in the trade market rather than free agency in the coming months.
Keep an eye on the Bears looking to augment their roster with a trade over the next couple months. Their cap situation will make it tough to be too active on the free agent market, but if there are players late in their rookie contracts made available, that’s one place where GM Ryan Pace could creatively improve what remains a win-now roster.
This falls in line with what The Athletic reported about the Bears looking to trade for a tight end this offseason. Someone that was mentioned was former first-round pick Hayden Hurst, who is entering the third season of his rookie contract.
Hurst would line up with what Breer mentioned regarding players late in their rookie contracts made available. But that’s reliant on whether or not Baltimore makes him available, which is certainly possible.
Considering the Bears are in the market for a quarterback to challenge starter Mitchell Trubisky, there’s another player that fits the bill of someone still on their rookie contract that figures to be on the trading block.
Josh Rosen was a highly-touted quarterback prospect coming out of UCLA when he was drafted with the 10th overall pick by the Cardinals and then traded to the Dolphins one season later.
Rosen figures to be on the way out of Miami with Ryan Fitzpatrick coming back and the Dolphins reportedly targeting a quarterback in the NFL Draft. Rosen could be an affordable option should the Bears be interested in a developmental prospect like him.
Given the Bears’ tight salary cap space — which currently rests around $26 million — it makes sense for Chicago to go the more cost-effective route with trading for some roster pieces.
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