Bears sign journeyman veteran QB to a one-year deal

Brett Rypien signed a one-year deal with the Bears on Wednesday. Rypien spent time with new Bears OC Shane Waldron in Seattle last season. This will be team No. 4 for Rypien over the past six months.

The Rams rostered Rypien for the season’s first half, bringing in the former Broncos backup just after the draft. Following a rough start in Green Bay, however, Rypien received his walking papers ahead of the Rams’ Carson Wentz addition. 

The Seahawks then added the veteran to their practice squad, which preceded a Jets late-season poaching. The middle stint is the most relevant to Rypien’s latest move.

Waldron resided as the Seahawks’ OC last season, and Rypien spent nearly a month on the team’s P-squad. While that is a brief cameo even by NFL standards, it does appear Waldron liked enough about Rypien’s form. 

A Denver backup for four years prior to the three-city 2023 odyssey, Rypien stands to be a factor for the Bears’ second- or third-string job once the offseason program begins.

Chicago is widely expected to draft Caleb Williams first overall. Unlike other QBs being considered in Round 1, the 2022 Heisman winner should not be expected to be stashed as a developmental project. With Williams ticketed for the QB1 role, the Bears are almost certain to trade Fields. 

That said, the three-year Chicago starter’s market has not taken off like the team hoped. A brief Raiders connection fizzled, and given that Luke Getsy coached Fields for two seasons, Las Vegas’ Gardner Minshew payment (two years, $25M, $15M guaranteed) probably matters with regards to the QB’s trade value.

Once connected to fetching Chicago a potential Day 2 pick and perhaps more, Fields may no longer be likely to generate such compensation. The Bears are standing pat for the time being, though Fields should not be expected to be on their 2024 roster. 

That could leave Rypien and Bagent in a competition behind Williams.