Windy City Gridiron
In this 13-part series, we’ll take an in-depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye toward the 2025 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Poles make.
A new head coach will bring more roster shuffling than usual for the 2025 Chicago Bears, and with 31 free agents, there should be plenty of space if the Bears want to bring in some talent for Ben Johnson’s offense or Dennis Allen’s defense.
I’m kicking off my 13-part roster turnover series with the quarterback position, and in the next few weeks, I’ll look at each Chicago position group with an eye toward the 2025 season. I’ll look at the current contract for each player, speculate on some cap casualties, and on some possible free agent or draft additions the Bears could make.
Here’s how Chicago’s QB room currently shapes up.
Caleb Williams - Signed through 2027* - We got the full rookie quarterbacking experience in 2024 from Williams. He started his career with a season-low 93 yards passing, but he also threw for the fifth most yards in team history. There were ups (four 300-yard passing games) and downs (68 sacks), but he has all the franchise rookie passing marks, and his sights are on Erik Kramer’s single-season passing yards and touchdown records in 2025.
*****The fifth-year option is available for 2028.
Tyson Bagent - Signed through 2025* - Bagent only threw two passes in 2024 as Caleb was the first Chicago QB to start every game in a season since 2009. Bagent is a low-cost QB2 with upside, and that could appeal to another team this offseason. If the Bears want to target a veteran backup quarterback, it may make sense for them to put Bagent’s name out there to see if a team would be willing to give up a day-three pick.
*Bagent would be a restricted free agent in 2026.
Austin Reed - Signed through 2025* - Reed spent last year on the practice squad after a solid preseason showing. He’ll be in the mix for a practice squad spot again this year.
*Reed would be an exclusive rights free agent in 2026.
2025 OUTLOOK - The depth at quarterback could change if Johnson is looking for a quarterback familiar with his verbiage. The obvious free agent connection is 32-year-old Teddy Bridgewater, who spent 2023 with Johnson and the Lions, and he spent a few weeks in Detroit last season after coming out of retirement. The Bears make a lot of sense if Bridgewater wants to keep playing.
Other veteran free agents who could be available are Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, Taylor Heinicke, and Tim Boyle, who had a brief history with Ben Johnson.
The Bears will eventually add a fourth quarterback for camp, but I doubt that will come via the draft.
What do you think will happen at QB this offseason?
