By trading Khalil Mack, cutting Danny Trevathan and not re-signing Akiem Hicks , the Chicago Bears have dismantled much of their front-seven core this offseason. That has made Robert Quinn‘s name jump out.
Even as the Bears go through a rebuild, Quinn does not want to be traded, via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin. That said, teams are looking into the veteran edge rusher, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Three years remain on Quinn’s five-year, $70M contract.
Quinn, 32 in May, makes sense as a trade candidate, given Chicago’s recent moves and his strong 2021 season. Quinn’s second year with the Bears ended with him breaking Richard Dent‘s single-season sack record (18.5). This, however, came after a two-sack 2020. Quinn’s bounce-back season in Dallas, in 2019, led to Chicago shelling out big money for him. The Bears have since shed most of their veteran contracts on defense. Quinn is attached to a team-high $17.1M cap number.
A team acquiring Quinn in a trade would have him on a $12.8M base salary, as the guarantees in his contract have been paid out. The Bears would be on the hook for his prorated signing bonus. A draft-weekend trade would tag the Bears with $12M-plus in dead money.
New GM Ryan Poles said in late March no Quinn trade scenario had surfaced, but if the right offer came for the 11-year veteran, it would certainly make sense for the rebooting Bears to consider it.
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