Austin Reed, Bears
Getty
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Austin Reed.
The Chicago Bears have their QB depth chart set at spots 1-3, but there is an argument to be made for a change within the position group — or at least an addition to it.
Austin Reed joined the franchise as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and remained with the franchise over the next two seasons. Reed is now the starting quarterback for the Dallas Renegades of the UFL and made history in his first start over the weekend.
Reed through for a league record of 376 yards and added three touchdowns against zero interceptions in the Renegades’ 36-17 rout of the Houston Gamblers.
Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, has a firm hold on the starting job in Chicago. Tyson Bagent, another undrafted free agent, played his way into a $10 million extension and is under contract with the Bears for the next two years. Bagent currently is in command of the QB2 role.
Chicago reunited with 38-year-old Case Keenum this offseason after employing him as QB3 in 2024, which remains Keenum’s situation now. However, Anthony Miller of FanSided suggested Sunday that the Bears consider bringing Reed back into the fold — particularly if the team deals Bagent following substantial trade buzz that began during the NFL combine in February.
“If the Bears decided to move on from Bagent, that would swing the door wide open for Reed to come back and take the third-string job behind Keenum,” Miller wrote. “Reed took advantage of his opportunity in the UFL to prove he can play at the NFL level, and now has put himself in the driver’s seat for calls to come his way after the season.”
Tyson Bagent Trade Could Happen Within Next Year
Tyson Bagent
GettyQuarterback Tyson Bagent of the Chicago Bears.
Bagent is not on the trade block at the moment, as the teams that made the most sense as partners for him have added other signal-callers over the last month.
The Atlanta Falcons released Kirk Cousins and replaced him with Tua Tagovailoa on a league minimum contract. The Arizona Cardinals cut Kyler Murray loose, but they may be content to move forward with Gardner Minshew on a one-year contract as a placeholder QB ahead of the 2027 draft.
Arizona could also be a player for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, the second signal-caller on most draft boards, a few weeks ahead of Round 1.
Bagent has strong trade value despite not starting a game since 2023. Chicago is a competitive team that should have a viable option behind Williams in case of injury, and Bagent fills that role nicely.
However, if an injury elsewhere leads to a trade offer for Bagent the Bears can’t refuse — like a second-round pick, for instance — the conversation could change. Otherwise, Bagent is a good bet to remain in Chicago through 2026, with the franchise revisiting the trade market for its backup QB next spring.
Bears Have Several Reasons to Consider Austin Reed This Summer
Austin Reed, Bears
GettyQuarterback Austin Reed, formerly of the Chicago Bears.
The more interesting, and potentially plausible, outcome is Chicago reverting to Reed in place of Keenum.
Keenum may not stick around the Bears’ locker room much longer given his age. Reed is far less accomplished than Keenum, but he also has much more career runway at 26 years old.
There is a strong argument for Chicago to trade Bagent next offseason if the market offers even a mid-round pick in return, and Keenum won’t be a longterm answer as QB2 next March, even if he is still in the NFL.
Reed knows Chicago’s system and personnel, and he showed Saturday that he is worth a practice squad spot, at the very least. As such, the Bears could look to bring Reed back into the fold during the preseason to add insurance behind its current QB depth, which Chicago could lose entirely to retirement and the trade block as early as next spring.