If one Instagram post was enough to start speculation of a Bears potential trade for Derek Carr, then this report from one NFL insider is enough to add fuel to the fire.
Benjamin Allbright, who primarily covers the Broncos, has indicated that the Bears are quietly looking at quarterback options this offseason. While Allbright says Mitchell Trubisky will get a chance to be the starter this upcoming season, he won’t have the same job security he had in 2019.
But it was the discussion about Carr that seemed to catch everyone’s eye. While it’s no secret that the Bears would prefer to bring in a ready-to-play veteran, Allbright indicated that Chicago would be interested in Carr, should the Raiders look to trade him.
Bears are quietly looking at QB options.
Trubisky will still get the shot to be the guy, but much like Titans/Mariota last year, the leash is short.
They'd prefer vet ready-to-play, options. If Raiders were to move on from Carr ($21.5m cap hit vs $7.9 dead) theyd be interested.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 20, 2020
Obviously this is all dependent on whether or not the Raiders are willing to part with Carr. With rumors swirling about Las Vegas’ interest in signing free agent quarterback Tom Brady, it’s fair to wonder what will become of Carr?
Considering every free agent — and tradable — quarterback has been linked to the Bears in some way, why not Carr?
If the Bears are interested the question becomes, what would be the cost?
Would it take one of their second-round selections (where the Raiders could get back the No. 43 pick they traded to the Bears in the Khalil Mack trade)? What about a second round pick in 2020 and a third rounder in 2021? Obviously, the best-case scenario would be to acquire Carr as cheap as possible. But it would all depend on the market Carr would attract.
Given the Bears are in win-now mode with their championship-caliber defense, bringing in a not-elite-but-solid quarterback like Carr gives Chicago its best chance to get back to the playoffs — and potentially make a Super Bowl run.
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