How The Cardinals’ Interest In Tyson Bagent Puts The Bears In A Dilemma
The Chicago Bears made their feelings on Tyson Bagent clear last offseason when they locked the young quarterback up to a three-year extension. It was a massive vote of confidence from head coach Ben Johnson, who’d apparently grown quite fond of Bagent in their brief time working together. The former undrafted free agent had flashed enough ability and combined it with a tireless work ethic to show he could be an ideal backup for Caleb Williams. However, the ceaseless demand for quarterbacks in the NFL led many to wonder if another team might come knocking about his availability.
Sure enough, John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Phoenix revealed that the Arizona Cardinals are intrigued by Bagent. Their new head coach, Mike Lafleur, is likely looking for quarterbacks with the rampant rumors that Kyler Murray will be traded. Most agree that the incoming 2026 draft class is light on franchise-caliber arms. In situations like this, teams always look to free agency or the trade market for solutions. Bagent has two highly affordable years left on his contract and has spent time in an offense similar to what Lafleur will run.
Trading for Tyson Bagent isn’t completely crazy.
There is a precedent for such moves. Since 2000, there have been five documented cases where a team traded for the backup from another team to make him their starter. The results were surprisingly decent. Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Schaub both became Pro Bowlers. Jimmy Garoppolo went to a Super Bowl. Jacoby Brissett was a decent starter. The only outright bust, ironically, was Arizona’s trade for Kevin Kolb in 2011. It isn’t crazy that a QB groomed for a couple of years might be ready for an opportunity.
| Quarterback | Original Team | New Team | Trade Year | Status with Original Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Hasselbeck | Packers | Seahawks | 2001 | Backup to Brett Favre |
| Matt Schaub | Falcons | Texans | 2007 | Backup to Michael Vick |
| Kevin Kolb | Eagles | Cardinals | 2011 | Backup to Michael Vick / Donovan McNabb |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | Patriots | 49ers | 2017 | Backup to Tom Brady |
| Jacoby Brissett | Patriots | Colts | 2017 | Backup to Tom Brady / Jimmy Garoppolo |
The problem is compensation. Green Bay moved up seven spots in the 2001 draft and got a 3rd round pick for Hasselbeck. Houston gave up two 2nd round picks for Schaub. Philadelphia got a starting cornerback and a 2nd round pick for Kolb. San Francisco gave up a 2nd round pick for Garoppolo. Teams are reluctant to give up quarterbacks they like. That means if the Cardinals are determined to get Bagent, it sounds like they need to start discussions with Chicago at a 2nd-round pick.
The Bears have a difficult decision if this hits their desk.
They re-signed Tyson Bagent for a reason. They feel he has tremendous value as a backup, as proven by his limited playing time in 2023 and his excellent preseason performances the past two years. However, it has become clear that Caleb Williams is cemented as the starting quarterback. He isn’t going anywhere. Chicago needs to always be thinking about building around him. An extra 2nd round pick could be incredibly valuable in that pursuit, especially with his likely contract extension coming up after this season.
Still, few things are more valuable than a dependable backup quarterback. There is no telling when Williams will get injured. He hasn’t until now, but history says it’s only a matter of time. Having Bagent waiting in the wings would be plenty comforting. Besides, Coach Johnson loves him. It might be hard to convince him that trading Bagent could be in the best long-term interests of the franchise. Coaches focus on winning now. They know what they have with Bagent. There is little sense in creating uncertainty in an important spot for a lottery ticket draft pick.