NFC North free agency news: Bears trading for QB Nick Foles

There’s a new starting* quarterback in the NFC North.

As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears are trading their fourth-round compensatory pick for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles. Foles was just one year into the four-year, $88 million deal the Jaguars signed him to in 2019, but the emersion of sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew after Foles’ injury has Jacksonville second-guessing their investment.

The Bears, themselves, are also second-guessing their investment in first-round selection Mitchell Trubisky. Given Foles’ hefty contract, he’s got a very good chance to take the starting job away from Trubisky.

Trubisky has failed to impress in his three years in Chicago, with the former North Carolina quarterback setting a career low in yards per attempt last season (6.1) while earning a passer rating of just 83.0 (28th).

Not only does this move signal the potential end of the Trubisky era, but it continues to shorthand the Bears when it comes to the draft. Already short picks due to the expensive Khalil Mack trade, the Bears now just have the following picks in the 2020 NFL Draft:

Second round (2): 43rd overall, 50th overall
Fifth round (1): 163rd overall
Sixth round (2): 196th overall, 200th overall
Seventh round (2): 226th overall, 233rd overall

Let’s check in on how Bears fans are taking the news: