INDIANAPOLIS — Desperation makes NFL general managers do crazy things. Right now, quarterback-needy teams are dialing the Chicago Bears with one name in mind: Tyson Bagent. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson hold all the leverage at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They know they have a highly capable backup locked into a cheap two-year, $10 million contract. If someone wants to pull off a Tyson Bagent trade, Chicago expects a massive haul.
Rumors flew around the Indiana Convention Center this week. Bagent won games early in his career and quietly developed into a premium insurance policy behind Caleb Williams. Chicago feels perfectly comfortable keeping him. He knows Johnson’s complex offensive scheme inside and out. That means Poles will not give him away for loose change.
According to Chicago Tribune insider Brad Biggs, the asking price sits at a steep premium. Biggs reported it would likely take a second-round pick—or two picks equaling that value—to pry Bagent away from the Windy City. That valuation stuns some front offices, but the logic holds up. Bagent completed 66.4% of his passes during his starting appearances and brings cheap, manageable cap numbers to the table through 2027.
I watched Bagent slice up the Raiders’ defense during his first career start. You could practically feel the electricity in the stadium as an undrafted kid from Division II Shepherd University proved he belonged. That same gritty confidence makes him a hot commodity for teams like the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, who are desperately searching for immediate stability without sacrificing massive salary cap space.
“It’s a really tough decision for us. Obviously the tough thing is with what Ben thinks about Tyson, what I think about Tyson, what our locker room thinks about Tyson. We have to weigh the short-term and long-term. What’s the cost for a replacement?”
— Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears General Manager
If Chicago executes this deal, the entire NFC North feels the shift. The Bears already possess a Super Bowl-caliber roster heading into the 2026 season. Adding another high Day 2 draft pick gives Poles the ammunition to draft an impact edge rusher or interior lineman. They clear room in the quarterback room, allowing them to sign a veteran mentor for Williams.
For the acquiring team, landing Bagent triggers an immediate quarterback competition. Whether he lands in New York, Atlanta, or Arizona, he brings starting experience without breaking the bank. The Bears hold the cards. They either keep one of the league’s best backup quarterbacks for a deep playoff run, or they flip an undrafted gem into a premium draft asset.
