The Chicago Bears agreed to a one-year, $10m contract with former Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton, his agent Jeffrey Nalley said on Tuesday.
The move looks to have all but ended the prospect of the Seattle Seahawks trading Russell Wilson, who is reported to be unhappy with the team he has led to two Super Bowl appearances. The Bears were one of four teams, along with the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, that Wilson’s agent said his client is willing to join if he leaves Seattle. The Bears now have Dalton, the Cowboys recently signed their starting quarterback Dak Prescott to an extension and the Saints have salary cap issues and have brought back Jameis Winston.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Bears made “a very aggressive pursuit” of Wilson but Seattle were not willing to trade, making a move to their divisional rivals, the Raiders, even more unlikely. Wilson also has a clause in his contract that stipulates he can veto any trade.
Signing Dalton gives the Bears two veteran quarterbacks with Nick Foles also on the roster. And it almost certainly shuts the door on 2017 No 2 overall draft pick Mitchell Trubisky re-signing.
The Bears seemed to make clear their feelings about Trubisky prior to last season when they acquired Foles from Jacksonville and declined their fifth-year option for 2021 on their once-prized QB.
Elsewhere, Trent Williams has become the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history, reaching a six-year, $138m deal with the San Francisco 49ers, $55.1m of which is guaranteed.
The eight-time Pro Bowler was widely seen as the best free-agent on the market this off-season but had spoken of his desire to stay in San Francisco, despite interest from the Kansas City Chiefs and Bears.