Chicago Bears: 5 Under-the-radar free agent targets in 2020
1. Marcus Mariota
The Chicago Bears have been linked to a number of different quarterbacks this offseason. One, in particular, is Andy Dalton. There are reports that the Bears might be interested in trading for Dalton. If they could restructure his contract so the Bears don’t have to pay him the $17.7 million he’s due in 2020 then something may happen on that front.
That is something that might happen through trade, though. This article is about free agency.
In my perfect world scenario, I’d love to see Tom Brady come to Chicago. Tweak the line, add a receiver, and fortify the tight end unit, then add the elite defense and Brady can find himself celebrating with the Lombardi Trophy for a team other than the New England Patriots.
What we’re looking for here is a bargain. There are plenty of free-agent quarterbacks available this year. Philip Rivers, Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston and Case Keenum are some of the signal-callers who may change teams in 2020.
Of those quarterbacks, I think Marcus Mariota has the most upside. Yes, he couldn’t beat out Ryan Tannehill for the starting spot. Also, he hasn’t exactly been lighting things up since he was the second overall pick in the 2015 draft.
A battle between Mariota and Mitchell Trubisky pits two number two picks who have so far disappointed. Mariota has a chance to turn things around the same way things turned on him in 2019. He had a front seat view on Tannehill winning the job and leading the Tennessee Titans on a playoff run.
Mariota would be a motivated player in a battle with Trubisky. He knows if he doesn’t win this battle he’ll probably be relegated to just a backup for the rest of his career. The same might be said about Trubisky. The Bears would have two men playing for their careers.
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Mariota has the ability to read the defenses and make the throws necessary to win. He’s already led the Titans to a playoff win without having much around him. After receiving a kick in the pants in 2019, he could come back and have a great season. At the very least, he could push Trubisky to be at his best. If he does that, signing him would be worth its weight in gold.