Chicago Bears: Best exit strategy for the Trubisky doubters?

JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 23: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans looks to pass the football during their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 23, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

There is a large contingent of Chicago Bears fans who are ready to give up on Mitch Trubisky after 15 games. Seems like an overreaction but things change.

It felt like they were willing to be patient last year. They understood Trubisky was in a tough situation with bad coaching and limited weapons. Now here he is a year later in a brand new system with new weapons and suddenly after three games, they’re declaring him a bust. What changed? Sure he’s struggling, but it can’t just be that.

Truth is the expectations changed. The Bears declared their intent to start winning now when they traded for Khalil Mack from the Raiders. Suddenly their defense is among the best in the NFL. They have weapons on offense. This looks like a team that is a quarterback away from being a contender. That puts instant pressure on Trubisky to perform, which can’t be easy.

It isn’t really fair. Trubisky already had a handicap coming into the league with limited experience, then he gets thrown into a bad system. Now he’s trying to catch up in a complicated scheme and people aren’t willing to give him the time to learn it. So let’s play the what-if game. What if the Bears decide to look for an early exit strategy in 2019? What could their options be?

There may be one intriguing option outside of the draft for Bears

Let’s get this out of the way. Barring an unforeseen release, the free agent market for quarterbacks next year will be barren. That is unless the New Orleans Saints somehow let Teddy Bridgewater leave despite trading a 3rd round pick for him earlier this year. Other than that it’s names like Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Robert Griffin III, and Brock Osweiler who will headline the group. So if it’s not the draft, is there a possible trade they might consider?

There just might be one. Among the more interesting situations that have developed of late involves Marcus Mariota. The Tennessee Titans starter sits on uncertain grounds. He hasn’t played well since last season (threw more INTs than TDs) and has continued to battle injury problems. With a front office and coaching staff in place that did not draft him, it makes his future beyond 2019 with them questionable. It’s the last year of his rookie contract.

Depending on how this season goes, it might open up the Titans to consider trading him and finding an answer elsewhere. So why should the Bears have any interest? A few reasons.

#1: Connections

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It’s clear that Mariota just isn’t comfortable with the offense the Titans are trying to run. He comes from a background of playing in a spread system where he can distribute the ball as a passer. It so happens the Bears employ the coach who helped make him a star at Oregon in Mark Helfrich. He was Mariota’s offensive coordinator and then head coach during the best part of his college career. A reunion with him in this type of offense could be a huge benefit.

#2: Production

Lately, Mariota has struggled. There’s no questioning that. However, unlike Trubisky he has past tape that shows he can be highly productive in the NFL. In 2016, he put up 26 touchdowns passes and just nine interceptions for the Titans. He is capable of playing top-notch football. He just hasn’t in a while. That doesn’t mean he can’t again. There have been plenty of QBs who’ve gone cold someplace but reignited elsewhere.

#3: Youth

It’s easy to forget that Mariota is still just 24-years old. He doesn’t turn 25 until the end of October this year. So he still has a long career ahead of him presuming he doesn’t suffer any more rough injuries between now and the end of the season. Again all of this depends on what the Titans want to do. They haven’t really made their stance clear so far this season. That could change depending on how things go over the next couple months.

There is one other key factor to note. Don’t forget GM Ryan Pace tried to trade up for Mariota back in 2015. The Titans said no back then. They might have a different answer next offseason. Probably not but it’s something to monitor if all the Trubisky haters wanted some hope.

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