Chicago Bears face big choice on backup QB Tyson Bagent

The Bears have Caleb Williams taking snaps under center right now, which solves a lot of problems. He’s been on the field since joining the league and hasn’t missed a game yet. When the QB stays upright, teams win more often—just look at what happened to Washington last year when their starter spent time in the medical tent. Williams’ health means the Bears can think about paring down their quarterback room. One of those backups—probably Tyson Bagent—could be on the move soon. He flashed during four starts as a rookie in 2023, enough to get the Bears fielding trade offers already. The team even admitted outsiders were asking about him this offseason.Still, letting Bagent go isn’t automatic. Chicago just brought in Case Keenum to serve as Williams’ emergency arm, so why give up one of their QBs if the other may not help much? Keenum’s last real playing time came in 2023, and he’ll turn 39 this year. If the rookie has to step in, his value to other teams rises fast. Chicago wouldn’t want to deal him just before a potential breakout. Trading Bagent might net the Bears a late draft pick, maybe in the sixth round. That feels light for a player who could suddenly become useful. Teams rarely carry three QBs anymore, so trading one away almost feels like following the crowd. But staying flexible could still be the smarter move.