Bears Add To Team Strength By Signing Five-Year Deal For Edge Rusher Robert Quinn, A Key Piece For The Cowboys Last Season

Credit the Chicago Bears for a stealthy signing that should improve the defensive side of the ball, which is the strength that helped them win 12 games and dream about the Super Bowl in 2018.

Fans and the media have focused on the quarterback situation but General Manager Ryan Pace counterintuitively is investing as much as $70 million in free-agent defensive end Robert Quinn. He was a leader on the Dallas Cowboys’ defense last year, piling up 11 1/2 sacks, which ranked ninth in the NFL. 

Quinn, who is entering his age-30 season and moving to his fifth team — there’s a flashing caution light the Bears ignored — tied the Chargers; Joey Bosa and Indianapolis’ Justin Houston in sacks, ranking third among defensive ends in taking down the quarterback. He joins Khalil Mack (8 1/2 sacks) and 2019 revelation Nick Williams (six) to give the Bears’ highly regarded defense three of the top 58 in sacks. Nose tackle Akiem Hicks had 7 1/2 sacks in 2018 but injuries limited him to five games last season.

The loser of this signing figures to be fifth-year linebacker Leonard Floyd, who reportedly is being shopped in trades that could bring a quarterback. Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton and Jacksonville’s Nick Foles are being mentioned in the most rumors but the Bears would be silly not to take a run at Deshaun Watson on the heels of the Houston Texans’ recent moves, including the shocking trade that sent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona, which was reportedly on Monday. 

The Bears don’t currently have a first-round draft pick to use to select one of the top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft or to use as leverage to be productive from the ongoing carousel, which is headed by Tom Brady. His decision could impact several teams, including the Bears. They have reportedly been pursuing Teddy Bridgewater but some are linking him to the Patriots in the fallout of Brady’s announcement he will not return to New England. Cam Newton, who battled a Lisfranc injury last season, is reportedly being shopped by the Carolina Panthers.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting the Bears will release Floyd, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2016 draft. It lost backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who they aren’t believed to have attempted to re-sign, and Williams to the Detroit Lions. The Lions reportedly agreed to a three-year deal for Daniel and a two-year deal for Williams, who made the most of his playing time last season.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the surprising deal between the Bears and Quinn. It reportedly guarantees $30 million to the widely traveled edge rusher.