A sudden swirl in the air has emerged that seems to be shifting free agent quarterback Mitch Trubisky in the direction of Washington.
Longtime Washington staple Hogs Haven reports that, as Washington reportedly combs the big-ticket QB market, Trubisky is "rapidly gaining traction" as a Plan B option, should the Commanders whiff on the top-tier quarterbacks. Importantly, Hogs Haven delineates that Washington doesn't just view Trubisky as a bridge option, but rather that he was a bad fit in Matt Nagy's Bears offense — a theme that is noticeably present in other reporting on Trubisky this offseason (more on in a bit).
While he may not have lived up to his draft status as the second overall pick, and the Bears will certainly never live down selecting him over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, Trubisky did start 50 games in Chicago while leading the Bears to a 29-21 record.
In total over four years, Trubisky averaged 208 passing yards per game and maintained a 64-to-37 touchdown-to-interception ratio with the Bears before winding up in Buffalo, where he could rehab his image on a one-year deal as Josh Allen's backup.
Out of nowhere, Trubisky is being linked to Washington all over. Sources tell Jordan Schultz the Commanders, Steelers and Saints are all interested in the Bears flame-out.
Where is all of this coming from?
An ESPN report from Jeremy Fowler last week got the ball rolling, citing several anonymous NFL executives as saying Trubisky could have a "real opportunity" to start this season, with those same sources noting the Commanders, Giants and Panthers all could be potential fits.
"I could see him going to a situation where he can be a starting option," one anonymous AFC executive told Fowler. "There's certainly enough there where the right offense can accommodate him. The offense in Chicago was pretty rigid and on-script, and I'm not sure it suited him."
ESPN's John Keim observes that Washington's new tight ends coach, Juan Castillo, was with Trubisky for one season in Chicago (2020), adding that Ron Rivera "remains tight with" Bills head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane, both of whom were with Rivera in Carolina. Commanders left tackle Charles Leno, who played with Trubisky in Chicago, could also be adding to the sphere of influence around Rivera, Keim notes.
"Trubisky wasted his time in Chicago; they didn't do him any service at all," former NFL GM Randy Mueller told Keim. "He's better than what we've seen, and I'd say that about Mariota as well. Both those guys are better than multiple starters playing right now."
And then there's Dan Orlovsky, who's had some objectively bad QB takes, listing the Commanders signing Trubisky on his Top 5 offseason wish list (for whatever that's worth).
Whether it's primarily coming from internal or external forces, somebody clearly wants the Commanders to get a good look at Trubisky. The only question is will Washington fans stand for it?
That one may require some debate.
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