Bears Decline Fifth-Year Option For Quarterback Mitch Trubisky

LAKE FOREST, IL — The Chicago Bears will decline the fifth-year option on quarterback Mitch Trubisky's rookie contract. The team's decision, which was due Monday and first reported by the NFL Network, means that the number two overall draft pick from 2017 will be a free agent after the 2020 season.

Trubisky's salary for the 2021 season, calculated based on draft position, would have been about $24 million. The money would only have been guaranteed if the quarterback were to suffer a serious injury.

The news follows the Bears' trade of a fourth round pick to the Jaguars for quarterback Nick Foles. After restructuring his contract, Foles is guaranteed $21 million over three years.

Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy told reporters earlier this month Trubisky "will be going first in the huddle," but there would be a healthy competition between the two quarterbacks for the starting job.

The #Bears are declining the fifth-year option on QB Mitch Trubisky, source said.

The team has liked Trubisky’s attitude since the Nick Foles trade and it’ll be an open competition. A chance for Trubisky to make himself a lot of money before his contract expires next March.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 2, 2020

Of the 13 quarterbacks who were drafted in the top 10 between 2011-17, the only others whose teams declined their fifth-year options, according to the Chicago Tribune, were Blaine Gabbert, a No. 10 pick by the Jaguars, and Jake Locker, a No. 8 pick by the Titans, both in 2011.

Another quarterback drafted second overall, Robert Griffin III, had his option exercised by Washington but the team cut him before the March roster deadline, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, which noted the last No. 2 pick to see his fifth-year option declined was Greg Robinson with the Rams.

Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Pace traded up to pick Trubisky second in the 2017 NFL Draft, picking him ahead of other notable available quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, who won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year, and Deshaun Watson, who was drafted twelves by the Houston Texans.