Earlier this week, it was reported that the Chicago Bears signed Andy Dalton, who last played for the Dallas Cowboys, to a one-year, $10 million free-agent contract. This came after rumors suggested that the Bears aggressively tried to acquire Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, only for the team to refuse their offer. However, that might not be it for Chicago’s attempts to land the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback, as hinted by a new report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bears Still ‘Paying Attention’ To Wilson
On Friday, ESPN’s Get Up! shared an excerpt from that day’s episode on Twitter where Schefter provided the latest update on the Bears’ pursuit of Wilson. He remarked that even if the team was “rebuffed,” they are “still paying attention” to the signal-caller and “have not abandoned hopes” that they could still trade for him.
“I think everybody needs to stay tuned to the Russell Wilson situation up to, and during the NFL Draft,” Schefter added, stressing that he hasn’t heard the Seahawks outright refuse to part ways with their longtime No. 1 quarterback.
Possibly ‘Awkward’ Situation With Dalton
In a separate report, Sports Illustrated predicted that Dalton could be in for an “awkward” situation if the Bears succeed in their rumored goal to acquire Wilson from the Seahawks. During his introductory press conference, Dalton claimed that he was told by Chicago officials that he will be the team’s starting quarterback in the 2021 season.
Either way, the Bears are hoping for stability at the position after they finished with an 8-8 record behind Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles in 2020 and quickly bowed out of the first round of the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints.
Wilson Could Be Immediate Upgrade At QB For Bears
If Wilson ends up with the Bears, it’s highly likely he will serve as a major upgrade over Dalton, as well as last year’s starting quarterbacks. The 32-year-old finished the 2020 season with 40 touchdown passes, 13 interceptions, 4,212 passing yards, a 66.8 percent completion rate, and a QB rating of 105.1, according to Pro Football Reference.
In contrast, Trubisky and Foles combined to pass for 26 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and 3,925 yards and completed 65.5 percent of their passes, per the Bears’ Pro Football Reference page.
Wilson Reportedly Interested In Playing For Bears
Although Wilson has yet to officially ask to be traded, Sports Illustrated noted that the Bears, Saints, Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders are among the teams he would like to play for if he gets moved during the offseason.
At this point, it isn’t clear what type of package Chicago will need to offer to convince Seattle to part ways with Wilson. However, reports from earlier in the week suggested that the Bears included three first-round selections, a third-rounder, and two starters in their unsuccessful offer.
