For the Chicago Bears, this offseason has been about addressing concerns that plagued them during an unimpressive 2019 campaign. And there’s been no one more criticized than quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who now finds himself fighting for his starting job.
While Trubisky was far from the only problem on offense, he was arguably the biggest. During a season where he was expected to take the next step in his development, he regressed to the point where general manager Ryan Pace felt it necessary to bring in competition — and a potential replacement — in Nick Foles.
So, as far as offseasons go, this hasn’t been a great one for Trubisky. Trubisky is among the “losers” of this offseason, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who believes the writing is on the wall for the former No. 2 overall pick.
ESPN noted the Bears opting to decline Trubisky’s fifth-year option as a bad sign of what’s to come. But they did acknowledge that one of his teammates has proven to be the exception.
Trubisky will instead have to look toward a teammate for hope. The Bears declined Kyle Fuller’s fifth-year option after injuries and inconsistent play, but after a breakout season, they used the transition tag to keep him around before matching a four-year, $56 million offer sheet. Fuller ended up making much more than he would have if the Bears had simply picked up that option in the first place. They have spent years trying to surround Trubisky with talent to confirm their belief that he was a franchise quarterback in the making. Now he has to overcome their skepticism and the odds.
Many have lost faith in Trubisky, including his GM and head coach, from the looks of it. But the hope remains that Trubisky will overcome the odds and become the quarterback Pace expected he’d become when he drafted him No. 2 overall.
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