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2024 edge rushers? Justin Fields trade hypotheticals? Bears mailbag, plus Week 7 picks

We’re begging for storylines, and it’s only Week 7.

A matchup between the 1-5 Bears and the 3-3 Raiders doesn’t offer much, especially with quarterback Justin Fields expected to be out along with hometown hero Jimmy Garoppolo.

And it’s only Week 7. There are no playoff or No. 1 draft pick implications.

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You know what we will have at Soldier Field on Sunday?

Tyson Bagent.

This is not meant to predict anything outrageous from the undrafted rookie quarterback set to start for the Bears on  Sunday. But at least there’s intrigue. There’s curiosity. There’s a little, “Hey, let’s see what this guy can do.”

Bears fans haven’t had that with a backup quarterback in a long time. Not through the Andy Dalton/Nick Foles days or Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley. Josh McCown sparked a fun quarterback conversation in 2013, but he was 34 years old.

Bagent will be the first Bears undrafted rookie to start at QB since Henry Burris (2002). He’s the 10th in the NFL to do so since the start of the 2018 season. Only four of them are currently on an NFL roster (P.J. Walker, Brett Rypien, Kyle Allen and Nick Mullens). So we have to temper expectations.

The Bears took a shot on a Division II record-setting quarterback. They were open to him winning the No. 2 job. And now he gets to show them what he can do as a starter.

If anything, we’ve got a storyline.

Now, on to your questions.

In your opinion, who would be the top pass rushers the Bears target this offseason via free agency and the draft? — Blake W.

One thing I wondered about general manager Ryan Poles’ strategy this past offseason at the edge rusher position was if he had looked ahead to 2024. His only additions via free agency were DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green, and then eventually Yannick Ngakoue. Meanwhile, the biggest contract in free agency for a defensive end went to Zach Allen with the Broncos.

Next March, the following edge rushers are scheduled to be free agents: Danielle Hunter (Vikings), Brian Burns (Panthers), Josh Allen (Jaguars), Chase Young (Commanders), Montez Sweat (Commanders), Josh Uche (Patriots) and Rashan Gary (Packers), among others.

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That’s a pretty loaded group compared with last year, and the Bears will have the money to land one, if not two edge players. Several of those players have injury histories to look into, and you have to figure out who’s the best scheme fit. Hunter is on the older end of that group but already has eight sacks this year.

Taking a look at this week’s mock draft from colleagues Nick Baumgardner and Diante Lee, Florida State’s Jared Verse is the first edge rusher off the board, going sixth to the Patriots. Alabama’s Dallas Turner goes 13th. The draft will be top-heavy with quarterbacks and offensive tackles (and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.), so the best bet to add a premium defensive end will likely come via free agency.

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Step right up, Tyson Bagent: You’re next on the Bears' QB carousel

Why doesn’t Gervon Dexter play more over Justin Jones? He clearly makes more of an impact and has way more upside. — Mike S.

Dexter had his best game against the Commanders and surprisingly played only 16 snaps against the Vikings. One thing that kept him off the field? Jones had his best game, with seven tackles, including two for a loss, and two QB hits.

“If someone’s affecting the quarterback, he’s going to stay in there more,” defensive line coach Travis Smith said Thursday. “If someone’s playing the run really dominant, they’re going to keep eating. … That wasn’t more of what Gervon wasn’t doing, it was kind of a little bit of what Justin was doing.”

This is an annual debate for non-playoff contenders. Fans, and sometimes members of the front office, would rather the young draft pick play over the veteran who likely isn’t part of the long-term future of the team. Coaches, however, can be pretty narrow-minded. I don’t mean that in a negative way, they just are focused on who can give them the best chance to win. Who do they trust every snap?

It’s possible Dexter still has to become more consistent to earn that. Coach Matt Eberflus did say a couple of weeks ago that they’d get Dexter on the field for more passing downs to let him rush. That didn’t happen enough last week — then again, the defense had its best game, as did Jones, so the coaches didn’t want to mess up what was working.

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Smith noted how Washington threw it a ton in Week 5, allowing Dexter to think less and simply rush the passer. That’s an easier thing for a young player to do, and Dexter needs to keep improving handling the base situations when it could be run or pass.

“Especially with young players, a lot of players like to guess or anticipate what’s happening,” Smith said. “And that gets them in trouble. … Everything we do is reacting to keys.”

I expect Dexter to, naturally, earn more playing time as the season goes along, as he gets more comfortable with what Smith is talking about. There was a learning curve based on his responsibilities on Florida’s defensive line. But there is no doubting his potential.

What’s the appeal for GMs and head coaches to come to Chicago given their recent history? Every time, they get hyped up and fail. Do the good ones not want to come here or are the Bears that bad at evaluating? — Corey N.

This is a unique question that probably could spark several essays and research projects. Evaluating GMs is tough. Nearly every new GM is a first-time GM, and it’s difficult to quantify each one’s true impact on a previous team. What players did they identify in the scouting process? What’s their experience in free agency? How will they handle the salary cap?

And a true unknown — how will they know whom to hire as head coach? In player personnel or scouting jobs, these GMs weren’t usually in positions to hire people. Certainly not coaches.

As far as the “hyped up” element, I think because there is so much mystery to GMs, we do our best to research them. We talk to their former colleagues and bosses. Usually, the praise is glowing, but no one really knows when a GM will pan out. A few years ago, was there a GM who got more love than Chris Ballard? Then Andrew Luck retires out of nowhere and the Colts have gone through it trying to replace him.

Some prospective GMs and head coaches might be leery about the turnover at Halas Hall. But a lot will seemingly be different whenever the Bears are in a hiring cycle because president and CEO Kevin Warren will be overseeing it. Of course, the McCaskey family’s role is the constant.

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For as bad as the Bears have been over the years, and the number of coaches, GMs and quarterbacks they’ve cycled through, the opportunity to be in a leading role for a charter franchise in a market like Chicago would be very hard for anyone to pass up.

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Greenberg: Enjoy Bears rookie QB Tyson Bagent's story of faith, defying odds while you can

What are the actual likely paths (or the potential paths, even if unlikely) you think that would result in Justin Fields being traded to another team this season? — Thomas T.

We discussed this on the “Hoge and Jahns” podcast, and it’s best to view it through another team’s perspective — like the Falcons. Do they see Fields as someone who could be their quarterback of the future more so than Desmond Ridder? It doesn’t look like they’ll be in position to draft one of the top quarterbacks. Owner Arthur Blank would probably be supportive of making an aggressive move for someone who grew up down the street, idolizing Michael Vick.

You need a team that views Fields as its 2024 starter, and maybe beyond. He likely wouldn’t appeal to a team for a partial-year rental, a rarity for quarterbacks anyway. The cost would be too much. Colleague Jeff Howe suggested a 2024 second-round pick, a 2025 conditional third-round pick and quarterback Taylor Heinecke in a hypothetical Falcons-Bears swap for Fields.

Never say never, but I think any path would require some other team to make that first call to give Poles, Warren and chairman George McCaskey something to think about — this would have to get approval from the top levels of the organization. Unfortunately for the Bears, their current record and 2024 draft situation puts them in a scenario where this is a topic worth touching on, even if it’s unlikely.

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What away press box has the best spread? Has the Bears’ spread improved under Warren’s watch? — Bryan G.

The press box spread at Soldier Field has improved tremendously this season. Reporters actually look forward to seeing the pregame and halftime menu. This is a first for me in 11 years on the beat.

The Vikings, Jets and Cowboys have some of my favorite press box spreads.

Maxx Crosby and the Raiders defense could make it a long day for Bears rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today)

Bears-Raiders fun facts

• The all-time series is tied 8-8. The last time the teams met, the Bears won 20-9 in Las Vegas in 2021.

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• The Raiders last played at Soldier Field in 2015. Robbie Gould’s 49-yard field goal gave John Fox his first win as Bears head coach. Jay Cutler threw touchdown passes to Martellus Bennett and Eddie Royal. It was Charles Leno’s first career start at left tackle, and he helped hold Khalil Mack to one sack and one QB hit.

• Raiders quarterback and Rolling Meadows High School product Jimmy Garoppolo, who is expected to miss Sunday’s game against his hometown team, is 3-0 in his career against the Bears but has yet to throw a touchdown pass against them. Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell is a Stevenson High School grad.

• Wide receiver Davante Adams is 14-2 in his career against the Bears with 10 touchdown catches and 1,024 receiving yards.

• The Raiders include the following former Bears: tight end Jesper Horsted, quarterback Brian Hoyer, defensive tackle John Jenkins, defensive tackle Bilal Nichols and returner DeAndre Carter. Center Hroniss Grasu is on the practice squad, and former Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly is the Raiders’ assistant GM.

Game picks: Bears (+2.5) vs. Raiders, noon CT on Fox

Kevin Fishbain: Raiders 19, Bears 18

(4-2 straight up, 4-2 against the spread)

Neither team does anything well, but the Raiders have the two best players on the field in Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby. While I think the Bears may be able to keep Adams in check, Crosby could overwhelm yet another makeshift offensive line. Kicker Cairo Santos helps the Bears cover the number.

Adam Jahns: Raiders 23, Bears 17

(3-3, 1-5)

With two backups playing, this could be a low-scoring game. Or it’s just unpredictable. The Raiders, though, still have game-changers in Adams, running back Josh Jacobs and Crosby.

Jon Greenberg: Raiders 12, Bears 6

(4-2, 3-3)

With Tyson Bagent likely going up against Brian Hoyer, they should make this a “radio exclusive” broadcast. How fun would that be? In fact, they should lower the blinds in the press box so even we can’t see what happens. Just let Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer be our eyes and ears. I really don’t know how this game is going to go, but my advice would be to bet the under.

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Dan Pompei: Raiders 24, Bears 20

(4-2, 4-2)

Bagent’s starting debut brings some intrigue, at least. But there is just one certainty in this game — there will be interceptions. And if the Bears don’t find a way to block Crosby, they may be playing Nathan Peterman next week against the Chargers. In which case there will be even more interceptions.

Vic Tafur (Raiders beat writer): Raiders 26, Bears 20

The Raiders defense has been carrying their offense this season, but here it’s Jacobs and/or Adams — with rookie speedster Tre Tucker breaking a big one — who lead the way as the Bears defense won’t be able to stop the run and pass — regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Raiders. Four field goals by Daniel Carlson ruin the storybook first start for Bagent, the Bears’ rookie QB.

Tashan Reed (Raiders beat writer): Raiders 21, Bears 14

Even with Garoppolo sidelined by a back injury, I have the Raiders winning this one on the road. Their defense has been thriving in recent weeks, and I don’t see that changing against Bagent and the Bears’ limited offense. Whether it’s Hoyer or O’Connell at quarterback for the Raiders, they feed Adams the ball and help the offense function well enough to secure the victory.

(Top photo of Luke Getsy and Tyson Bagent: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

“The Football 100,” the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, goes on sale this fall. Preorder it here.

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