At some point in time, the Chicago Bears will part ways with Robert Quinn, but there are ways to get something in return, and these potential packages can fit the bill.
The Chicago Bears have established themselves as a team in a rebuilding stage, and circulation has spread about trading pass rusher Robert Quinn.
Following a season where the veteran defensive end set the franchise record for sacks in a season, talks have swirled about trading Quinn and receiving draft capital or even younger players in return.
But therein lies the question. Who will take Quinn, and how much are they willing to give up for a 32-year-old pass rusher that has been inconsistent over the last few years?
Unlike the Von Miller trade that netted the Broncos a second and third-round pick that ultimately turned into Nik Bonitto and Greg Dulcich after additional moves, the Bears aren’t likely to fetch the same price.
So what do they do? The answer is simple but not so straightforward. Try and get what you can and work with it.
The Chicago Bears will need to make more moves if they wish to speed up the rebuild, and trading Robert Quinn for the right assets can make that happen.
One thing that should be noted is that Robert Quinn will likely want to be traded to a contender, which may slim the options, but give a clear picture of how this could all fold out.
At the same time, the Chicago Bears have so many holes that need to be filled that any aggressive trade on their part could hinder them.
Still, Quinn’s consistent or somewhat inconsistent history could come back to bite the Bears. In 2013, he racked up 19 sacks. However, from 2018-2021, Quinn’s production resembled a roller coaster (6.5, 11.5, 2.0, and 18.5).
That may play a factor in the amount of compensation that is received for Quinn’s services.
That will have to be taken into consideration for Ryan Poles as he is highly adamant about stockpiling draft picks; see the 2022 NFL Draft for evidence.
For now, let us look at five possible trade scenarios that may sound puzzling at first but make sense from a philosophy, culture, and football standpoint.
Projected Trade No.5: Robert Quinn to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2023 3rd round pick and WR Bryan Edwards
Again, this is speculation, and given that the Falcons just traded for Bryan Edwards earlier this offseason from the Raiders after the Calvin Ridley fiasco, this deal may not happen.
At the same time, the Bears should not hesitate to try, given that former general manager Ryan Pace currently resides in Atlanta along with several other former Bears executives. Plus, has anyone seen the Bears’ offense right now?
There is no legitimate threat at the wide receiver position, with the exception of Darnell Mooney.
Moreover, the wide zone scheme requires not only specific running backs but wide receivers that can make plays consistently, and right now, the Bears do not have the latter, again, except for Mooney.
This may not happen, but hypothetically speaking, the Falcons’ defense needs a boost in general, and Arthur Smith is known to do more with lesser-known wide receivers.
Also, the Falcons are in a rebuild, and having a veteran leader helps. Given how Quinn wants to be traded to a contender, this deal may not happen, but again, this is a hypothetical situation. It never hurts to try, right?
Projected Trade No.4: Robert Quinn to the New York Jets for a 2023 3rd round pick, WR Denzel Mims, and DT Jonathan Marshall
This may not happen either, but it would help the Bears fill two of their needs and give them a youth injection that is sorely needed. Because Quinn will want to go to a contender, however, this may not happen. Still, we can explore how this will benefit both sides.
Robert Saleh has a young, talented team that could use a veteran presence. Moreover, the bottom of his roster has players that may need a fresh start in a new system.
One of the more common names that gets thrown out is Denzel Mims. Despite his size and speed, he has not caught on with the Jets during his tenure. In the case of Marshall, though he was a late-round pick, he too has not cracked the lineup or even gotten a good opportunity to play.
It would be best for both Mims and Marshall to move to a team like the Bears where they will have an opportunity to potentially play right away, given how the Bears need to fill so many holes. Plus, both men are on cheap contracts, and if they perform up to par, they could earn another deal.
Marshall would fit well as the 3-T and allow Justin Jones to do his job, while Mims gives Justin Fields a tall, fast, underrated weapon in the passing game, which is crucial in the outside zone offense.
The Jets should strongly consider this offer, which will help them narrow the gap in the division without having to blow up their roster. Also, the Bears get some help, which can be a win-win.
Projected Trade No.3: Robert Quinn to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2023 3rd round pick, OT Justin Skule, and DE Charles Omenihu
Now, the deals tend to be more serious and more likely. Additionally, this makes sense from a financial and contender status as well. For one, San Francisco was just in the NFC Championship game a year ago and very likely could have prevented Matthew Stafford from getting a ring.
To get over the hump, however, they will need more.
Look no further than Chicago., who happens to be their Week One opponent. The Bay Area has a contending team, and they also have pieces that the Bears could use as part of their future.
After all, the Bears aren’t going anywhere for a while and need all the help they can get if they want to show that despite a lack of supreme talent, they are still a competitive team.
Adding Skule to their offensive line, given his experience in the wide-zone scheme, would be a blessing for Justin Fields.
At the same time, adding an underrated pass rusher in Omenihu would alleviate the cap space issue for the Bears and give them future flexibility to extend key players or add them in free agency as icing on the cake.
Given that San Francisco will be earning a 3rd round pick due to the Dolphins hiring Mike McDaniel, they can afford to part with one of their third-rounders and add two very young and talented rotation/backup players in the deal for a proven yet inconsistent veteran would not be the worst move in the world.
The NFC West needs pass rushers, and the 49ers need as many as possible if they want to stay with the Rams.
Projected Trade No.2: Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2023 3rd round pick, S K’Von Wallace, and G Jack Anderson
The NFC East may have the Dallas Cowboys sitting pretty at the top, but the Eagles also made the postseason, and we know the type of general manager that Howie Roseman is.
Additionally, former director of player personnel Ian Cunningham is now with the Bears. So, there is a connection.
What does it mean, though? For one, it means the Bears have a pipeline of communication for a potential deal. So, by trading Quinn to Philadelphia, Chicago gets two young players in return by way of Jack Anderson and K’Von Wallace.
Both men are underrated and don’t cost much, allowing the Bears to give Philadelphia a competitive advantage within their division while stocking up for their own future.
Anderson may not be a sure bet for the offensive line, but he has played a high-scoring offensive system before in college, and, as constantly mentioned, he is young, cheap, and fast off the line. Just what Poles wants. Wallace is a safety, and at first glance, it seems puzzling.
However, Eddie Jackson has been through, shall we say, a slump, and even though he is working hard to prove that the slump was merely a lapse, a fresh form of competition never hurt anyone.
Maybe, if the Bears end up moving on from Jackson, Wallace can team up with Brisker to form a strong safety duo for the Bears for years to come. It’s a deal that may seem odd but has its reasons.
Projected Trade No.1: Robert Quinn to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2023 3rd round pick, LB Darius Harris, and WR Justyn Ross
In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs are a class above most franchises. Though Cincinnati walked into Arrowhead and swiped the Lamar Hunt Trophy this past season, Andy Reid and friends still are the team to beat, and so are the Buffalo Bills.
But it’s not about the Bills, it’s about Kansas City and Chicago using connections to make a deal. Given that Quinn wants to play for a contender, this makes sense from several angles.
Ryan Poles came from the Kansas City personnel staff and has studied under three general managers, which means he has enough connections to at least have the team take his phone call.
In this deal, the Bears get a draft pick, a strong-side linebacker, and a playmaker at wide receiver. Yes, Ross was an undrafted free agent this past season, but the Bears need receivers for their team.
Despite a tough medical history, Ross is extremely gifted and talented, and Chicago needs to surround Justin Fields with weapons. The offense needs a boost, in whatever way they can get it.
Defensively, Harris would step in with his skill set and join Nicholas Morrow and Roquan Smith as the starting linebackers and form a respectable trio in the second level of the Bears’ defense. Also, the draft pick acquired will likely be traded for more draft capital.
For now, the Bears get some youth, depth, and potential immediate help.