Foles’ odds on being named the starter continue to grow

With the Chicago Bears getting closer to being able to actually get on the field and practice, the odds on quarterback Nick Foles starting over Mitchell Trubisky continue to grow. Head coach Matt Nagy has maintained that Trubisky will open up as their number one, but that it will be an open competition once they can practice.

To Trubisky’s credit he’s been putting in work this offseason to ready himself for the challenge, but Foles has been hard at work as well preparing to lead this team. How ever this ends up the Bears’ QB room will be in a better situation than a year ago.

If things end up like so many are predicting, Foles is QB1, then the Bears will have a player that understands and can execute the offense more efficiently than we saw in 2019. But if Trubisky proves worthy of keeping the reigns, then we may see him take that jump that so many of us expected him to take after his solid 2018 season.

I’ve maintained all offseason that I would love for the latter to happen, but I expect the former to be the winning scenario.

Earlier this week Oddschecker US had Foles as the favorite by a wide margin (-305 for Nick to +200 for Mitch), and that equates to an implied 33.33% chance that Trubisky wins the job this offseason. By Wednesday morning that number had even longer odds for Mitch at +230, or a 30.30% he starts.

We’ve seen a steady increase from odds-makers tabbing Foles as the starter since he was acquired back in March, but until the two players jog between the lines at Halas Hall there’s no way to know for sure. “When you’ve traded up to secure the second overall pick, you know they need to work out or your neck could be on the line,’ says Pete Watt, spokesperson for Oddschecker US. “That’s why the Bears will give Mitchell Trubisky every possible chance to keep his starting job, but if they feel Foles gives them a far better chance of winning then they’ll start him. The question is whether that is week one, or a few weeks into the season.”

Have your thoughts on the Bears’ 2020 starting QB changed with the comments from Nagy or the comments (or actions) from general manager Ryan Pace these last couple months?