Chicago Bears defensive end Robert Quinn wants to leave the Bears, according to a recent report. The Bears’ 3-time pro bowl defensive playmaker made Jason La Canfora’s NFL Insider Notebook on Friday.
Here’s what Canfora wrote:
“I continue to hear that Quinn wants out of Chicago – and who could blame him? – and there are a host of interested teams. Bears brass has told everyone he ain’t going anywhere, but they will keep asking and that’s not lost on the veteran defensive end. The Bears look hapless, they dealt fellow veteran pass rusher Khalil Mack already, and Akiem Hicks doesn’t seem likely at all to be back. Team is in transition under new management, Quinn is coming off a monster season with 18.5 sacks. He just turned 32 and wants to win, and he is also an absolute steal this season ($13M); if he gets dealt the next team would likely sweeten the pot with incentives if nothing else. If the Bears are as bad as I expect, this will only fester, and he could be the prize of the trade-deadline market if nothing else (fetching more than Von Miller a year ago I believe).”
A loss on the defense?
This would be another blow to the defense that is already looking to bridge the transition to a new 4-3 defense with a light depth on the roster. Quinn had 18.5 sacks on the 2021 year. Without him and Mack going after quarterbacks this season, the pass rush might look a lot slower starting in September.
Losing Hicks would all but make the defense a shell of what it had been. The Bears got help in the draft via Dominique Robinson. Robinson would have a lot of learning to do in his rookie offseason to catch up to the level of Hicks, Mack or Quinn.
The upside of a Quinn leaving is that it would be via a trade, and the Bears need picks or extra help both now and in the future. Quinn’s stock after last season has never been higher.
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