Should the Bears keep Matt Barkley next season?
The Chicago Bears are in a state of disarray at the quarterback position. They have four solid veterans, but no long-term solution. Jay Cutler is as good as gone, though. That leaves Brian Hoyer, Connor Shaw and Matt Barkley as the three QBs on the roster. Unless the Bears are willing to overpay for a backup, Hoyer won’t re-sign with the team this offseason.
Due to injuries at the position, Chicago has started Barkley for the past two games. Nobody had many high expectations for the USC alum, but he has led the Bears to one win and a close loss to a playoff contender. Considering that they only have three wins all year, that’s impressive. Barkley, though not dominant, has proven that he is capable of starting some games if needed. That’s enough for a solid contract as an NFL quarterback.
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He is currently on a one-year, $600,000 contract, which means that he will be a free agent after the season ends. He will likely come at a cheaper price than Brian Hoyer will. That, along with the fact that Barkley is five years younger, makes him a more attractive re-signing option.
The Bears’ draft positioning will also play a big part in whether or not they re-sign him. As of this writing, they have the fourth pick in the draft. In a draft class that’s thin at top-level quarterback talent, that won’t be enough to get a quarterback. That would likely make them pick a quarterback on Day 2. Chicago could bring Barkley back as a stopgap QB while the rookie develops.
In all, there aren’t really any negatives for re-signing Matt Barkley. His combination of youth, recent success and a relatively cheap price makes him a very attractive option to bring back. Let’s just hope that the Bears make the right decision.
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