Why the Bears potentially signing Mike Glennon isn’t *totally* insane

They finished 28 in scoring offense, 24 in scoring defense and last in turnover differential at a staggering minus-20. He isn’t the type to blow any team out of the water or rank in the top 10 passing leaders, but combined with the productive run game led by Jordan Howard, he provides the type of game-manager style and consistency that the Bears need.

Needless to say, Bears’ Twitter was not excited.

As we bid adieu to Cutler, now is the time to wonder: is he the greatest quarterback in Bears history?

The move came on the heels of the team setting its sights on free-agent quarterback Mike Glennon, who agreed to a three-year deal worth $43.5 million on Thursday with a reported $19 million guaranteed. However, Glennon’s guaranteed money isn’t too much, and the Bears did clear almost $12 million in cap space by releasing Jay Cutler. Yes, paying $15 million a year for a quarterback with a sub-60 percent completion rate and a 5-13 record as a starter sounds like the worst idea in the world.

The Chicago Bears have closed the book on Jay Cutler’s era as their franchise quarterback, an unfulfilling eight-year story that featured only one postseason appearance.

This left the Bears desperate enough to give Glennon a bloated contract in a free-agent market once again lacking established talent.

DeShaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer are the headline QB names in this year’s draft class but whether Chicago see any as a third-round pick remains to be seen. He obviously had a spectacular college career, and he performed better than expected at the combine.

College quarterback turned National Football League receiver Terrelle Pryor left Cleveland for Washington for a one-year contract worth up to $8 million.

Mike Glennon’s deal with the Bears is structured perfectly. Now, he is leaning towards choosing the Philadelphia Eagles when free agency starts, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson. Not overspending for cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore or A.J. Bouye can be justified in a year that features one of the deepest defensive back draft classes we’ve ever seen.

Glennon’s deal also illustrates a competitive advantage for the New England Patriots. In Chicago, he will be the #2 at best (to Cameron Meredith), which makes him a fantasy WR4 or WR5.

Outside of draft possibilities, the Bears’ options aren’t exactly plentiful. Wheaton got an immediate enthusiastic call from former Oregon State teammate Rashaad Reynolds, a cornerback signed late last season to the Bears practice squad and to a reserve/futures contract in early January. “That guy was making a lot of plays throughout the course of the season”. His exceptional skills became more of a tease than fuel for the success envisioned by the Bears when they brought him in. However, the Lions grabbed him on the first day of free agency, leaving a hole. The move wasn’t surprising by any means, as it was a heavy rumor throughout the 2016 season.