Meet the Bears’ New Starting QB, Nick Foles
On March 18, 2020, the Bears traded for former Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles. In the trade, the Bears sent a 2020 fourth-round draft pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for QB Nick Foles.
The Bears have found their QB competition for training camp in August, and can now focus on other needs with their draft picks.
After being traded to the Bears, Nick Foles’ contract was restructured by the front office. As of now, Foles is under a 3-year, 24 million dollar deal, with 21 million in guarantees. There is a player option in the contract for 2021 and 2022, so Foles can void the contract if he outplays the deal. This is a really great contract for a guy like Foles, regardless of if he starts or not. This new contract makes the overall trade with the Jags look a lot better for the Bears.
Foles brings a new dynamic to the Bears offense. Foles has ideal size, standing at 6’6 and 243 pounds; Foles isn’t the most mobile guy, but with that size batted balls at the line of scrimmage won’t be a major concern. Foles has worked with Nagy, DeFilippo, and others on the coaching staff. Foles is going to hit the ground running in Chicago cause of his familiarity with the offense. Foles, when given time, delivers a pretty deep ball and has a nice touch on his passes.
Having Foles under center will make the offense better overall, and will substantially help the skills players in the offense. Foles isn’t as athletic as Trubisky but can deliver the ball accurately and with confidence. That is something we didn’t see much of from Trubisky in 2019. Mitch isn’t scrub or anything, but he just hasn’t produced the way the Bears have hoped. Mitch would prove to be a solid backup behind Foles.
This will certainly be a competition for the starting job, but Trubisky’s leash is the shortest it has ever been.
The Bears didn’t bring in Foles to ride the bench. Maybe this lights a fire under Trubisky, but Foles is the early frontrunner to win the job.
Mitch’s one advantage (knowing the playbook) is at least somewhat negated due to Foles’s connections with coaches on the staff. Foles has proven to be a guy who can win big games and make plays, and that is what the Bears have needed since 2018. This is Foles’s job to lose.
Since the Bears have a bridge quarterback that can hold his own for at least a couple of seasons, they can address other needs in this month’s upcoming draft. The Bears, assuming Foles doesn’t turn out as planned, can use their 2021 first-round choice to draft their quarterback for the future.
There are certainly a ton of variables in this scenario, but the bottom line is the Bears have a plan. Hopefully, it works out, but Pace’s plans with QBs in Chicago haven’t been great. If Foles doesn’t work out with the Bears, cleaning house is a very realistic outcome.
This is the last chance for Pace and the staff he has hired to get this team to where it can go, or they’ll all be looking for new jobs one year from now.
Featured Image: NBC Sports Chicago
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