Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson makes bold top-32 declaration about quarterback Tyson Bagent

One of the most intriguing stories that have come out of the NFL scouting combine this week has been that the Chicago Bears have received calls from other teams about one of their quarterbacks. Of course, Caleb Williams is not going anywhere. He is the face of the franchise and will remain the cornerstone of the offense for, hopefully, years to come.

Instead, though, NFL teams are reaching out to them about the availability of backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Last spring, Bagent signed a two-year $10 million extension with Chicago, keeping him tied to the Bears through 2027.

However, with multiple teams looking for a starting quarterback in 2026, there is interest in Bagent as a possible trade candidate.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson believes Tyson Bagent is a top 32 NFL quarterback

General manager Ryan Poles confirmed that Chicago has received inquiries about Bagent, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2023.

Quality backup quarterbacks are hard to find, and there is no guarantee that Chicago will actually trade him. However, they also want to do what is best for the organization in the long run (by receiving a possible draft pick) and for Bagent himself.

Indeed, head coach Ben Johnson believes that Bagent is worthy of being an NFL starting quarterback, telling reporters:

“I love Tyson. That’s one that kind of pulls at your hearstrings a little bit, because he’s someone that you care about so deeply. And he’s a hell of a football player, that at some point, you wanna see have a chance to do it himself.

“We’ll always do what’s best for our team and our organization. I do think there’s a lot of merit to having a strong No. 2 quarterback, which, he certainly fits that bill. I’m of the mind that he’s probably one of the best 32 in the NFL. His preseason tape over that last few years has (probably) confirmed that, in my opinion.”

“But, if I took myself out of the equation, I want what’s best for him. If he would like an opportunity to start, I certainly hope he can get that somewhere.”

If an NFL team views Bagent as a possible starting quarterback, his $5 million annual salary over the next two years would be an incredible bargain. Both Poles and Johnson endorsing him as a starting-level quarterback at the combine also drive up his trade value.

It will be interesting to see what the Bears are able to get in a trade for Bagent, if they decide to trade him at all. And if they do, they will need to find a good backup for Williams.

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• Bears’ Caleb Williams responds to Ben Johnson’s career statement

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