Bears trade idea swaps Tyson Bagent for Colts' Anthony Richardson

wcc

May 27, 2026 - 18:14

0 0

Bears trade idea swaps Tyson Bagent for Colts' Anthony Richardson originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Bears already have their franchise QB, Caleb Williams.

They currently have two quality backup quarterbacks, though, and that could allow them to take a swing on some upside at the most important position in sports.

Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum are both on the roster. ESPN's Dan Graziano thinks that Bagent could be offered in a straight swap to the Indianapolis Colts for their own young QB, Anthony Richardson.

Richardson would become a talented backup in Chicago, potentially able to get a specialty package, and maybe even be a trade piece again down the road.

"Richardson requested a trade in February, and the Colts agreed to try and accommodate him," ESPN's Stephen Holder wrote in a new article on Wednesday. "No deal has materialized yet, but Richardson's decision earlier this month to finally show up for voluntary offseason workouts hasn't changed his position. A future in Indianapolis seems doubtful after a messy three seasons filled with injuries, benchings and wavering by the Colts."

MORE: Jason Kelce says the NFL is ruining its most valuable asset

Does it make sense for either side to swap one backup QB for another? There is a case to be made for it.

"I don't see anyone giving up a pick for Richardson at the moment," Graziano writes. "The Bears dangled Bagent in trade offers earlier this offseason, and here he likely gives the Colts a better backup option than Leonard. Richardson gets to learn from Bears coach Ben Johnson and maybe show enough in the preseason that he becomes appealing to another team in trade. Heck, maybe Johnson has some ideas for how to use him in a package or two. The Bears still have Case Keenum behind Caleb Williams as a veteran backup."

At this point, Richardson is a wild card who may not ever pan out, but he's one that probably still has a few offensive coaches intrigued.

Bagent is a great story with the Bears from the Division II ranks, but it's hard to see what his value is to Chicago in the years ahead.

A backup QB trade would be an odd one, to be sure, but maybe it'd make sense on both sides here.