Bears Are Reportedly “Shopping” Robert Quinn Before Deadline

It isn’t hard to connect the dots at this point. The Chicago Bears are 2-4 with games against the Patriots and Cowboys up next. Anybody that has watched this team for the past months should have no trouble predicting they’ll be 2-6 by the end of October. That includes GM Ryan Poles. It may give him a necessary push to start preparing possible trade scenarios with the November 1st deadline fast approaching. One name that is picking up steam is Robert Quinn.

People will criticize the timing. Quinn has one sack this season, meaning his value has plummeted from a few months ago. Why didn’t the Bears work harder to move him back then? The answer was simple. They likely knew how weak their defensive line was and wanted to have at least one above-average player on it. Now with the team destined for a down year, keeping him no longer matters. According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, the phone lines are wide open.

The Chicago Bears are a mess again, and they are in a rebuild even if they don’t want to admit it, although pawning off Khalil Mack should have been evidence enough. Now, after the Bears told teams through the offseason that they didn’t want to part with Robert Quinn, their other veteran pass rusher, multiple NFL executives (speaking on the condition of anonymity because they are not permitted to discuss players on other rosters) told me Quinn is indeed being shopped around with the trade deadline a few weeks away.

“They want to move him, but they are going to have to eat some of that contract to do it,” one GM said.

Robert Quinn has clearly checked out.

Last season he had plenty of motivation to play well. There were still lingering hopes the team might rebound to reach the playoffs. He also had lots to prove after only two sacks in 2020. He proved his point with 18.5 last season. Now with that motivation gone and realizing the Bears are entering a rebuilding phase, it’s painfully apparent Quinn has lost his motivation. He’s been shut down in almost every game this season.

There is a strong likelihood another team may come in with a cheap offer to see if they can squeeze some juice out of his aging body. The Bears are in a good position to eat some of that contract, thanks to their tons of cap space next year. That might help Poles secure a decent pick. At this point, anything would be welcome. A few teams to watch include the Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Arizona Cardinals might be another one to watch.