Trade Mitch Trubisky and Sign Tom Brady? That’s Crazy … But It’s Only 97% Crazy!

ESPN has rolled out a fun new graphic, which acts as a choose-your-own-adventure page, featuring premier NFL free agents as the moving pieces and this offseason as the setting.

Using this tool, NFL writer Bill Barnwell presents scenarios for eight of the league’s top free agents and destinations, then follows up with the domino effect for each of their signings. It’s a unique idea, presentation, and layout that I think you should check out to get your offseason buzz building.

But it also presents something that I can classify only as not 100% crazy. Call it like 97% crazy. So take that as you will (if you clicked over, you already know where this goes).

As soon as you get to the page, you’re met with a jarring image of Tom Brady wearing a navy blue Chicago Bears jersey with a white No. 12 trimmed in orange. It’s a predicted scenario from Barnwell, which sees Brady signing with Chicago and ushering a chain of changes in the Bears’ quarterback room. Well, then.

Obviously, this isn’t a particularly likely outcome for about a million reasons, but let’s at least go through the steps to see why it’s not *completely* out of the question (and how it would actually work).

STEP 1: Bears Sign Tom Brady to a Four-year, $110M Deal

To get started, I’d like to remind you to ignore the big numbers in any NFL contract, particularly this one. Barnwell might have typed “four-years, $110 million,” but Brady’s deal would effectively amount to a one-year contract worth $35 million, with three voidable years at the end.

As for the other three years and $75 million on the contract, Brady and the Bears can cross that bridge when they get there. But in the meantime, the focus would be on maximizing on the competitive window Chicago opened up in 2018.

On the surface, Brady and the Bears makes some sense. Watching him take over an offense that prioritizes getting the ball out quickly and accurately (two things Brady does well) and marrying it to a defense that ranked in the top 10 in scoring, yardage and DVOA lsat year sounds ideal. The Bears would still need to bolster some spots on the roster, and would have to do it with limited cap funds. But I suppose that’s the price to pay in order to acquire the waning years of the G.O.A.T. slinging it at Soldier Field.

Step 2: Trade Leonard Floyd to the Giants for a Sixth-Round Pick

The Bears need to create cap space in order to make this hypothetical scenario a reality, which brings us to Barnwell’s next domino: sending Leonard Floyd to the New York Giants for a sixth-round pick.

Floyd is scheduled to make $13.2 million on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. Trading him would mean giving up on a former top-10 pick, who hasn’t become the sack artist many envisioned, and would create the need to land a pass-rusher in the draft. Thankfully, the Bears have two second-round picks — one of which could be used to draft Floyd’s replacement.

The Giants were keen on Floyd and reportedly had their hearts set on drafting him until the Bears leap-frogged them on draft day. So maybe this trade scenario makes more sense than we would otherwise think.

Step 3: Trade Mitch Trubisky to the Dolphins for Josh Rosen

I can’t imagine a scenario where the Bears carry Tom Brady and Mitch Trubisky on the same roster – and neither does Barnwell, who has the team declining the fifth-year option on Trubisky, then sending him (along with a seventh-round pick) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for quarterback Josh Rosen.

Should this come true, it would mark the third team in as many years for Rosen, who was a top-tier prospect coming out of UCLA, but hasn’t made much of his limited opportunities. Rosen spending the final two years of his rookie deal (with cap numbers of $2.079M and $2.879M) as a backup learning behind Brady might be a more appealing scenario than dealing with the awkwardness of Trubisky losing his gig and sitting the final year of his rookie deal behind Brady (all while making $7 million more than Rosen).

Swapping Trubisky’s cap number ($9,237,539) for that of Rosen’s ($2,079,796) creates $7,157,774 in cap space. Tack on the removal Floyd’s deal, and the Bears would be looking at Chicago having $25,399,104 in cap space. Clearly, there would still be a need to get some more work done to fit Brady’s deal and whatever else the Bears needed to add in the offseason. And while this constitutes a start in the right direction should the team insist Brady is the short-term answer to its quarterback dilemma, it will also leave the Bears in an unenviable cap situation. It’s quite the hurdle, to say the least.

Barnwell’s Bears scenario has domino effects around the league. Because after Brady goes to Chicago, Barnwell has New England trading a third-round pick to Carolina for Cam Newton. From there, Marcus Mariota signs a two-year deal worth $18 million with the Panthers to provide a new-look franchise with a quarterback considered a low-end starter or high-end backup. And finally, this scenario wraps up with Teddy Bridgewater signing a four-year deal worth $120 million with the Colts.

But it’s the Bears stuff that’s most juicy and pertinent to us, and kinda crazy. Should you want to explore more scenarios, then be my guest. We’ve got plenty of time until the action period of the offseason takes place.

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

written by

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

more bears news

Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Defensive Linemen

The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team’s four picks (Nos....

And Now Penei Sewell Has Signed a MASSIVE Extension With The Lions

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is hard at work today! It's fitting that just a day before the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit, the Lions have locked up two franchise, homegrown cornerstones just hours apart. This morning,...

Take a Look at the New Chicago Bears Stadium Renderings

The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for their downtown lakefront stadium proposal on Wednesday. And as you might expect, it is very kind on the eyes: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1783185834490888461 The Bears even gave the project a code name — The Burnham Park Project: The...

Amon-Ra St. Brown Signs MASSIVE Extention With Lions

We have a new highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL! According to a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Lions have made Amon-Ra St. Brown the richest wideout in the NFL with a four-year, $120 million contract extension...

Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Offensive Linemen

The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team’s four picks (Nos....

Stadium Stuff, Rome and Caleb, New Bears Hires, and Other Bears Bullets

The 2024 NFL Draft is just one day away. Soon, we'll get to hear those magic words: "The Chicago Bears are on the clock." And they'll mean something! ICYMI: The Bears, who are set to have a press conference at...

Ian Cunningham is Getting an Extension From the Bears

Ian Cunningham is set to stick around for a little while longer. The Chicago Bears assistant general manager is getting some years tacked on to his contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. No details on how many more years are...

The Bears Are Expected to Ask For Some Public Money For New Stadium

If you have followed pro sports stadium projects in the past, then you probably are aware that taxpayers tend to end up footing a hearty chunk of the bill. And while the Chicago Bears have not yet made public their...

Bears GM Ryan Poles Isn’t Necessarily Looking to Trade For More Draft Picks

Ryan Poles has done well in creating a bevy of picks in each of his first two NFL Draft classes as Chicago Bears general manager. And even though the Bears have a league-low four picks in this week's NFL Draft,...

Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: 4.0

We’re just over 24 hours from the NFL Draft, and all I can say is finally. Finally, we’re done with the speculation. I’ll never forget the Bears Twitter Civil War of 2024 centered around the Caleb Williams vs. Justin Fields...

Latest News

Golden Knights vs. Stars NHL Playoffs First Round Game 3 Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Saturday, April 27, 2024

The Vegas Golden Knights meet the Dallas Stars on Saturday and are -120 on the moneyline, with the latter at +100.Golden Knights vs. Stars Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Golden Knights (-120)Underdog: Stars (+100)Total: 6Best Golden Knights vs. Stars Promo Codes[lasso type="table"...

Guardians vs. Red Sox: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Thursday, Josh Naylor and the Cleveland Guardians (17-7) play Tyler O'Neill and the Boston Red Sox (14-11), with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM ET at Progressive Field.See how to watch the Cleveland-Boston matchup below.When is Guardians vs. Red...

Maple Leafs vs. Bruins NHL Playoffs First Round Game 4 Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Saturday, April 27, 2024

The Toronto Maple Leafs are -112 on the moneyline against the Boston Bruins (-108) on Saturday, with this tight-looking matchup being played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.Maple Leafs vs. Bruins Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Maple Leafs (-112)Underdog: Bruins (-108)Total: 6Best Maple...

Mariners vs. Rangers: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Seattle Mariners (12-12), led by Caleb Raleigh, visit Adolis Garcia and the Texas Rangers (13-12) on Thursday at 2:35 PM ET.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Seattle take on Texas live.When is Mariners...

How to Watch Padres vs. Rockies: Live Stream or on TV

The San Diego Padres (13-13), with Randy Vasquez on the mound, visit the Colorado Rockies (6-18) who will counter with Dakota Hudson, at 3:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading for TV and streaming...

2024 Las Vegas Raiders Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits Including Tackle & Cornerback

The desert heat is rising in Las Vegas, and so are the expectations for the Raiders. The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and the Silver and Black hold the 13th overall pick. Will they prioritize shoring up the offensive...

Twins vs. White Sox: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Thursday, going for a series sweep, Ryan Jeffers and the Minnesota Twins (10-13) face the Chicago White Sox (3-21), with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM ET at Target Field.Keep reading to find out all the details on how...

How to Watch Astros vs. Cubs: Live Stream or on TV

Justin Verlander takes the mound for the Houston Astros (7-18) when they visit starter Javier Assad and the Chicago Cubs (15-9) at 2:20 PM ET on Thursday.See how to watch the Houston-Chicago matchup below.When is Astros vs. Cubs and when...

Royals vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals (15-10) host Daulton Varsho and the Toronto Blue Jays (13-12) on Thursday, with first pitch at 2:10 PM ET.See how to watch the Kansas City-Toronto matchup below.When is Royals vs. Blue Jays and...

Yankees vs. Athletics: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Thursday, Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (17-8) play Abraham Toro and the Oakland Athletics (9-16), with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM ET at Yankee Stadium.The article below will give you everything you need to watch New...

more bears news