(670 The Score) The Bears allowed general manager Ryan Pace to return for a seventh year in his position, carrying belief that he could bring Chicago a winner in part by filling the franchise's longstanding void at quarterback.
"Frankly, I don't know that a lot of people have confidence in this course of action," Bears chairman George McCaskey said of the decision in a season-ending media session, acknowledging the sentiments outside Halas Hall.
Just weeks after the Bears chose to retain Pace, confidence in Chicago is still sorely lacking as the newest quarterback storyline unfolds.
Pace's potential plan has now emerged, as the Bears have interest in acquiring quarterback Carson Wentz from the Eagles, sources confirmed. Philadelphia is seeking a package of two first-round draft selections, ESPN first reported, similar to what Detroit received in trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams.
But in the case of Wentz, even one first-round pick would be too much of a premium for the Bears to pay. Wentz makes little sense for the Bears in their current state, as they need a proven quarterback to legitimize a championship window that they believe is still open. Wentz, 28, has regressed since his MVP-level 2017 season, with his performance plummeting to a point in which the Eagles chose to bench him this past season. He threw for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while posting a 72.8 quarterback rating in 12 games in 2020.
At this point, Wentz is comparable as a quarterback to Mitchell Trubisky. They were the No. 2 overall picks in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and each has regressed in a similar system and struggled in his own way to connect with his coach. The main difference is that Trubisky is set to enter free agency while Wentz has four years remaining on a lucrative contract.
Why would Wentz perform better in Chicago than he did in Philadelphia? Why would the Wentz experience be any different than the Trubisky experience? Pace has to ask himself those questions before falling in another trap in his search for a quarterback.
To be certain, there's attractive upside for the Bears to acquire Wentz and reunite him with quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, who developed him well in his first two NFL seasons in Philadelphia. But Chicago isn't in a position to take on a project. These Bears need stability at quarterback. If the opportunity arises, what they need to do is take a swing on a proven player like the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers did with Tom Brady last March.
While the Eagles are surely intent on driving up Wentz's price, the Bears' interest is "real," a source said. And Pace's history in bidding against other teams doesn't inspire hope he gets this right.
The NFL's quarterback carousel has only begun to turn with the trade of Stafford to the Rams, leaving teams like the Bears with a month to make a decision before the new league year starts. There are plenty of options other than Wentz. Pace could showcase patience and pursue a trade for Sam Darnold (Jets) or Teddy Bridgewater (Panthers). He could add a lower-cost free agent like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Cam Newton, and he could also seek a long-term fit in the draft.
If the Bears were to acquire Wentz, they'd also be removing themselves from the potential Deshaun Watson sweepstakes in Houston, however remote Chicago's chances may be.
Wentz should only be pursued if Pace and his front office have evaluated and exhausted all other options at quarterback and can acquire him at a fair price. That price isn't a first-round pick, considering the uncertainty that Wentz would bring.
The Bears have remained in a quarterback mess because of Pace's ill-fated decision to draft Trubisky over Watson and Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Pace was so zeroed in on Trubisky that he paid a premium to trade up one slot to ensure the Bears could select him.
If the Bears go through with a deal for Wentz, it would be yet another shortsighted decision by Pace that doesn't solidify the quarterback situation.
Wentz wouldn't solve anything for the Bears. He would only complicate their problem.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.