Nick Foles might disagree, but when the 2020 NFL offseason first began, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace suggested Mitchell Trubisky's place as the team's starting quarterback was safe.
But that narrative began to change over time. Reports began to surface at the scouting combine indicating the Bears were hoping to acquire a veteran quarterback to challenge Trubisky.
Then, at the start of free agency, the “Monsters of the Midway” acquired Nick Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars, seemingly eradicating the idea Trubisky would be the starter especially considering Foles' big contract.
However, the Bears have since restructured Foles' deal and are insistent on establishing a sense of competition between Trubisky and Foles.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network also reported Bears coaches reached out to Trubisky after making the deal and indicated he would still have every chance to win the starting quarterback role.
From @NFLTotalAccess #StayHome Edition: #Bears coaches reached out the day of the Nick Foles trade to tell Mitch Trubisky he'd get a shot to win the job. And whenever practice begins, Trubisky will get the first snap. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/GBbK6tTDaU
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 3, 2020
Trubisky took a step back in 2019 for the Bears after a promising sophomore season.
The former No. 2 overall pick ranked 28th out of 30 qualified signal-callers in terms of total quarterback rating (QBR), per ESPN. He also averaged just 6.1 yards gained per pass attempt for the Bears and showed an inability to throw an accurate ball downfield.
Foles is one of the best deep-ball throwers in football when healthy, but the “if” is vital in this case. The former Super Bowl MVP played in just four games last season due to a broken clavicle, and–for all his talent–his career has mostly been that of a backup. It is a mystery as to what level of play he will display in Chicago. How well he pushes Trubisky will be one of the central storylines in the league once NFL activity ultimately resumes.
Regardless of who wins the starting job, the Bears are hoping Foles and Trubisky will push each other to be better, which would ideally result in a net gain for the team.
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