Case Keenum
Getty
Case Keenum of the Chicago Bears.
There is no debate over Caleb Williams as the Chicago Bears‘ starting quarterback, though the position group behind him just got considerably more interesting.
The Bears on Monday, March 9 inked 38-year-old Case Keenum to a two-year contract, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“Source: veteran QB Case Keenum is re-signing with the Chicago Bears on a 2-year, $5.5 million deal with a max value of $8 million,” Schefter reported via X.
Keenum spent last season with the Bears on a one-year agreement worth $2.25 million, though he never took a snap.
Williams remained healthy enough to start all 17 contests, while backup QB Tyson Bagent filled in during garbage time on three occasions after making four appearances during Williams’ rookie campaign.
Bears Brass Loves QB Tyson Bagent, but Can’t Keep Him Forever
Tyson Bagent
GettyQuarterback Tyson Bagent of the Chicago Bears.
Chicago head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles have raved about Bagent this offseason, who recently inked a two-year extension worth $10 million to stay with the team.
However, Bagent has also garnered considerable trade interest across the league as a less proven, less desired Malik Willis type, who just pulled down $22.5 million annually from the Miami Dolphins on a three-year contract after serving as a quality backup behind Jordan Love for the Green Bay Packers over the past two seasons.
“We’ve gotten a few calls there. Obviously, the tough thing is what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson,” Poles said at the NFL Combine in February. “That’s a really tough decision for us. But for Tyson as well, I think he would have the opportunity to go perform for a team and do some really good things. But again, you have to weigh the short-term and long-term.”
Tyson Bagent Has Strong Trade Market This Offseason
Tyson Bagent
GettyQuarterback Tyson Bagent of the Chicago Bears.
Bagent has a similar situation as Willis, with former Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham now serving as the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. Willis inked his deal in Miami after the Dolphins signed Jon-Eric Sullivan out of the Packers’ front office to run their organization. The team then hired Jeff Hafley, Green Bay’s defensive coordinator for the last two years, as the head coach.
“The Falcons are viewed as a potential trade destination for Tyson Bagent,” NFL reporter Evan Sidery wrote in late February. “The Bears appear open to moving Bagent, who could fetch a Day 2 draft pick value as one of the NFL’s best backups thus far. New Atlanta GM Ian Cunningham worked under Ryan Poles in Chicago.”
Another team reporters and analysts have floated as a Bagent destination is the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona will release QB Kyler Murray this week and pay him $36 million to play elsewhere. The Cardinals were also frequently mentioned in conversations around Willis, though that is obviously no longer in play.
Bagent, who will play next season at 26 years old, is under contract through 2027. The Bears are a viable contender in the NFC and while Williams has yet to miss a game, Chicago has incentive to hold onto Bagent through at least this season as an insurance policy.
His trade value isn’t likely to decrease over the next year, as the Bears could still deal him next spring to a QB-needy team with one inexpensive season remaining on his contract. The market may not be as good given the expected quality of the 2027 draft class, but Chicago should still be able to find a suitor.