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          Chicago Bears

          Was Andy Dalton the best the Bears could find? Perhaps, but uncertainty remains at QB position

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          Wilbon: The Bears are a disaster right now (1:29)

          Mike Wilbon goes off on Bears general manager Ryan Pace and calls for coach Matt Nagy to be fired because of how they've handled the QB position. (1:29)

          • Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff WriterMar 16, 2021, 10:39 PM
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              Dickerson covers the Chicago Bears for ESPN's NFL Nation. He is the co-host of "Dickerson & Hood" on the ESPN Radio national network, and is heard in Chicago on ESPN 1000.
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          CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears fans spent weeks and weeks salivating over the possibility of their team trading for either Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson.

          Tuesday’s signing of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton -- ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports the deal is for three years and worth $10 million, plus a chance to earn $3 million in incentives -- does not completely extinguish the hope of acquiring another higher-profile quarterback, but the move is more rooted in reality.

          The Bears have issues at quarterback. Serious issues. These problems date back 70-plus years. The only quarterback on the roster heading into Tuesday was journeyman Nick Foles.

          Then came news Tuesday that the Seattle Seahawks told the Bears "no" in regards to trading Wilson, per Schefter. The Texans are acting as if Watson will be their starting quarterback in 2021 (Watson insists he wants out, for the record). The Bears are drafting 20th next month. ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes the top five rookie quarterbacks will all be off the board by pick No. 15.

          What were the Bears supposed to do? Nothing?

          That question is not meant to absolve the Bears of blame. The franchise was severely set back when it drafted Mitchell Trubisky second overall in 2017 ahead of Watson and Patrick Mahomes. That’s not an easy mistake to admit, let alone fix. So, the Bears entered this offseason simply working with what they have.

          Dalton, 33, is an experienced player who performed reasonably well for Dallas last year. Dalton spent three of his eight years in Cincinnati with Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, which will help. Dalton is a three-time Pro Bowler who led the Bengals to the postseason five times, losing in the wild-card round each time and struggling mightily in the playoff games themselves.

          Bears sources involved in the process describe Dalton as a natural leader who is relatively durable. Most importantly, "he brings experience and is a good decision maker."

          Basically, Dalton probably was the best bridge starter available, and the Bears moved quickly. Had they waited, Dalton certainly would’ve ended up somewhere else.

          So here we are. Dalton is the new starting quarterback (in pencil). Foles can be the helpful No. 2 quarterback, unless he’s pressed into duty. And the Bears can focus on younger quarterbacks, while still holding out hope they can somehow land a marquee passer.

          Is it ideal? No, but this is what happens when you fail to draft not one, but two, franchise-altering quarterbacks. The Bears are still feeling the aftershocks of 2017. Buckle up. It could last for a while.