The Chicago Bears will not pick up the fifth-year option on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s rookie contract, according to NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero.
The decision means Trubisky is currently slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season.
Trubisky is the just the latest top-five pick from the 2017 draft to have their option declined, as only Myles Garrett has had his picked up by the Cleveland Browns.
2017 draft class fifth-year options for top 5 picks:
1. Browns DE Myles Garrett:
2. Bears QB Mitch Trubisky:
3. 49ers DL Solomon Thomas:
4. Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette:
5. Titans WR Corey Davis:It’s hard to find a sure thing in the draft.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 2, 2020
The 25-year-old Trubisky was the first quarterback selected in the 2017 draft as the Bears traded up one spot to select the North Carolina pivot second overall. The selection of Trubisky, however, has garnered plenty of criticism in the years since as both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were picked afterwards, 10th and 12th, respectively.
General manager Ryan Pace largely staked his reputation to Trubisky when he traded up a spot with San Francisco to draft him ahead of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Houston’s Deshaun Watson. While Mahomes and Watson have emerged as two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, Trubisky has mixed promising flashes with too many poor decisions and throws. And he is facing a murky future in Chicago.
Chicago lacked playmakers to complement receiver Allen Robinson and got little production from its tight ends. It addressed that issue by signing five-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham in March and drafting Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet in the second round last month.
Trubisky had a typically tough rookie campaign in 2017, but played better in 2018 under new head coach Matt Nagy as the Bears went 12-4 (11-3 with Trubisky under centre) and Chicago made the post-season for the first time since 2010. However, Trubisky and the Bears regressed in 2019, finishing outside of the playoffs with an 8-8 record and an offence that ranked 25th out of 32.
In response, the Bears acquired Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season and declared the two quarterbacks would battle it out for next season’s starting spot.
As mentioned above, Pelissero reports the Bears have been impressed with Trubisky’s response to the Foles acquisition.
— with files from the Associated Press
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