The roster is filling out, are the Bears set at QB?

The Chicago Bears have made several moves over the last couple of weeks to improve the roster for 2025.

As we now firmly are entrenched in wave 2 of NFL free agency, it’s time for teams to take a look at their rosters and specific needs that they still have.

The Bears have done a great job filling out the roster, but they still have a few holes remaining that they should address before free agency.

One position they haven’t addressed (but may not need to) is in the quarterback room.

The Bears currently have three QBs on the roster: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Austin Reed.

Most teams like to enter training camp with four quarterbacks so they can handle the volume of snaps and throws that QBs have to do during camp, but will the Bears just grab a UDFA QB to fill out the roster that has no real chance to make the team, or will they go for a veteran presence?

At this point, if the Bears try to bring in a significant QB2 to compete with Tyson Bagent, the choices are pretty slim, but there are a few options.

They could do something wild and pursue Jameis Winston. Carson Wentz is available who spent last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have signed Gardner Minshew and are going in another direction, so Wentz could be an option. Drew Lock is currently not under contract and probably has very little interest in returning to the New York Giants at this point. Other than that, the only other name out there is Joe Flacco.

Most of these names are going to be getting picked up over the next week. Some of them, like Winston and Flacco, might be looking for a path to a starting role, even if they have to accept a QB2 role now, they may be looking for an uncertain QB1 position where they may get an opportunity.

None of those players have spent time with any of the Bears coaching staff, which always provides a strong opportunity for a connection.

If the Bears are comfortable with Bagent as their QB2, they may turn to a veteran presence to work in the QB3 or QB4 role during the offseason program and in training camp. If the Bears do that, they may be looking for someone with familiarity, either with the Bears or with Ben Johnson.

Brett Rypien did a nice job in Chicago last year as a veteran presence with rookie Caleb Williams. The Bears released Rypien so he could have an opportunity to join the Vikings as their QB2, a role he would not have had in Chicago over Bagent.

Case Keenum has been around for a decade and a half and has been in about every offensive system in the league. He could provide some unique insight into the QB room and the Bears coaching staff.

Jeff Driskel was with the Detroit Lions in 2019 when Ben Johnson first arrived there. There is some familiarity there but not much.

Tim Boyle also crossed paths with Johnson in Detroit a couple of years ago and potentially could be on their radar.

But of all the names, the one that might make the most sense is Nate Sudfeld.

Sudfeld has been in Detroit during Ben Johnson’s tenure as offensive coordinator. He knows Johnson and his tendencies well. He spent time in Philadelphia in the Andy Reid system (Doug Pederson) where he was part of a Super Bowl winner, and even spent a year in San Francisco under Kyle Shanahan.

He would be a great QB to bring in and work with Caleb Williams on what Johnson is looking for and also bring the perspective of a QB that has been in multiple, excellent offensive systems which is clearly something Johnson is looking for based on his comments and coaching hires.

The Bears could head to the draft with three QBs and add a UDFA and it may be something they end up doing. But if they are looking for a veteran QB who knows Johnson well and can help Williams, Sudfeld could make a lot of sense.