INDIANAPOLIS — Sean McDermott said he couldn’t say enough positive things about former Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky — and then tried to do just that. The Bills head coach called his backup a “class act” and “consummate professional” who did a “phenomenal job” in 2021.
His general manager, Brandon Beane, went one step further.
“He’s just a marry-your-daughter type of guy,” Beane said this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Before either nominates Trubisky for canonization, it’s worth pointing out that he threw eight whole regular-season passes last year. All were in garbage time — he entered games with the Bills up by 22, 33 and 17 points, and once when they were down 26. His preseason homecoming at Soldier Field, in which Trubisky posted a 106.4 passer rating, was the highlight of his year.
Still, there’s buzz at the Combine that Trubisky could be the answer to someone’s quarterback problem. Perhaps he follows former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to the Giants and challenges Daniel Jones for the starting job. The Commanders don’t have a starting quarterback on their roster. Neither do the Saints, Buccaneers, Steelers or Broncos.
One year after Trubisky signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to back up Josh Allen, the Bills fully expect him to get a richer deal — and a better opportunity — when the legal tampering period opens March 14. Pro Football Focus projects he’ll get a two-year, $14 million contract, be it as a fringe starter or a high-end backup. Others have speculated he could fetch even more — perhaps double — if a team sees him as a surefire starter. Matt Nagy’s lack of offensive success with veterans Andy Dalton, Nick Foles and Justin Fields has led some to believe that Trubisky wasn’t the problem.
A one-time No. 2 overall pick who spent his first four years with the Bears, Trubisky was hurt last offseason by a shrunken salary cap and a draft that featured five quarterbacks ticketed for the first-round. His failures with the Bears were still fresh.
This offseason, the market views him more favorably. The mystery surrounding his last year certainly helps. Trubisky — who’s always been a good practice player — took so few snaps in game action that front offices can project upon Trubisky whatever they want.
Squint hard enough, and he looks better than some of the alternatives.
“If you look at his career history in Chicago, they went to the playoffs, they won a lot of games,” Beane said. “When you compare it to young quarterbacks starting as a rookie, I mean, he was drafted highly. And in fairness, I think a lot of it happens because he was drafted so highly and above some of the guys. He was always being compared to them and just, you know, was never gonna be able to live up to some of the things that [the Chiefs’ Patrick] Mahomes and [the Texans’ Deshaun] Watson and some of those guys did.
“But he’s a really good quarterback and I think he’ll have a good opportunity.”
Blame quarterbacks Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger, who have retired in the last year and left their teams scrambling for a replacement. Credit a snoozer of a quarterback class in this year’s draft — Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, Liberty’s Malik Willis and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral could all be chosen in the second half of the first round.
“None of the quarterbacks just completely blow you away,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said.
The once-breathless predictions of star quarterbacks suiting up for new teams might never materialize, either. The Packers are still waiting on Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he wants to play in 2022, and if he wants to play for them. Pete Carroll said Wednesday the Seahawks have “no intention” of trading Russell Wilson. Watson has 22 pending lawsuits and won’t be moved unless they’re adjudicated or settled. The 49ers are listening to offers for Jimmy Garoppolo, but he’s scheduled for shoulder surgery next week and could go the next four months without throwing a pass. Kirk Cousins has a year left on his Vikings deal.
That leaves Carson Wentz as the veteran quarterback most likely to be traded. He’s better than Trubisky, but not by much. Adding Trubisky doesn’t require trade compensation, either; he might be the second-best available free-agent quarterback, behind Jameis Winston.
Squint long enough, and you can talk yourself into anything.
“For his ups and downs in Chicago, never said a negative word about anything,” Beane sad. “And I’ve been around players when they’ve come from a stop that didn’t go as well, and they can’t help themselves: `Man, I like this place better because y’all do this and that.’ And Mitch, never. He’s such a pro.”
But is he a starter?
“When given the opportunity to play, whether it was in preseason or the regular season, he did a phenomenal job …” McDermott said. “I think it’s unrealistic to think that we’re going to be able to have him back, but I want him to go on and do great things for him and his family — which I know he’s going to do.”
