Caleb Williams, a rookie quarterback, is poised to head the Chicago Bears’ offense. With Chicago’s first padded workouts beginning on July 26, the team is only now getting a sense of what to anticipate from its new quarterback.

The Bears currently boast one of the NFL’s youngest quarterback rooms. Tyson Bagent, last year’s backup, is entering his second season. He turned 24 in June and is now competing for the same post again. Brett Rypien, 28, is the elder member of the group and competes with Bagent for QB2.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine compiled a list of moves that every team “should consider” before the 2024 regular season begins. He sees the Bears trading a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for experienced quarterback Taylor Heinicke and a 2025 seventh-round pick.

“The Chicago Bears have an extremely youthful quarterback combination at the top of the depth chart. Caleb Williams will be expected to perform well as a rookie, while second-year player Tyson Bagent will serve as the backup for the time being,” Ballentine said.

“The Bears could use a veteran like Heinicke to fight for the backup position and help Williams grow. The major gain for the Falcons would be a draft pick boost and a $1.2 million savings in space.”

It is unlikely that the Bears would trade for quarterback Taylor Heinicke.

Bears QB Caleb Williams taps into veteran receivers' database - Chicago Sun-Times

It’s easy to understand why the Falcons might want to move on from Heinicke after selecting rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.

“The Atlanta Falcons’ decision to sign Kirk Cousins and draft Michael Penix Jr. was one of the most wild storylines from the 2024 offseason,” according to Ballentine. “Whether the pair of decisions made sense or not, they render Taylor Heinicke an illogical inclusion on the roster.”

During the offseason of 2023, Heinicke signed a two-year contract with Atlanta worth up to $14 million. His cap hit for the upcoming season is little over $4.5 million, according to Over the Cap. It’s understandable why Atlanta would want to get rid of his deal, but it’s less clear why Chicago would want to take it.

The Bears could yet look to add another quarterback to serve as Williams’ backup. However, with training camp already underway and the team’s preseason beginning with the Hall of Fame game on August 1, Chicago is unlikely to add a veteran now, especially by trade.

The Bears’ backup quarterback job is Tyson Bagent’s to lose

Heinicke has undoubtedly proven to be a solid backup. He’s started 29 games since joining the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He has a 13-15-1 record as a starter, completing 62.5% of his throws for 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions while running for 588 yards and three touchdowns.

However, the Bears already have a promising backup in Bagent, who is younger and more economical. In some aspects, Bagent resembles a younger Heinicke. Both were undrafted free agents who play with the tenacity and scrappiness that comes with being an underdog.

Bagent is feeling more confident than ever as he enters his second year.

“I think the speed in which I can paint the picture in my head and have an understanding of my order of operations before I get to the line of scrimmage have been night and day from last year,” Bagent remarked on the morning of July 26. “I feel really comfortable and in command of the offensive as a whole. It’s fantastic to be able to play quickly and without any hesitation.”

Bagent played in five games for the Bears last season, starting four. He finished 2-2 as a starter, completing 65.7% of his throws and tossing three touchdowns and six interceptions. He also carried 23 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Bagent appears to be a good fit for the backup position.

“I’ve made a lot of progress in that as far as being a resource and somebody that can help out,” he shared with me. “I want the Bears to win the Super Bowl, so being that resource, if it’s what I need to do, then I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”