The Kansas City Chiefs made a change behind Patrick Mahomes this past offseason, parting ways with Carson Wentz and signing former Las Vegas Raiders starter Gardner Minshew. It appears to have been a solid upgrade, evidenced by Wentz remaining in free agency as we near the final weekend of preseason action.
The Chiefs have a recent history of consistently shuffling backup options behind Mahomes, looking for a combination of the most affordable and reliable options. Unfortunately, the news coming out of Chicago on Wednesday may make that preference even more difficult to maintain in KC.
The #Bears are signing QB Tyson Bagent to a two-year, $10 million contract extension worth up to $16M with incentives, his reps at Milk and Honey Sports and Key Player Management tell The Insiders.@CHGO_Bears first reported the deal, which ties Bagent to Chicago through 2027. pic.twitter.com/rL2XgKK2qF
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 20, 2025
Bagent's Surprise Deal a Clear Concern for Gardner Minshew's Chiefs Future
Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent has signed a two-year, $10 million deal that has a ceiling of $16 million as his potential earnings over the pact. While this may not seem outrageous in some ways, it is important to remember that Case Keenum was brought in as well, making Bagent a depth option.
Paying a player who could be your third quarterback this highly is going to only aid the hopes of Minshew and other top backups of cashing in after the 2025 season.
This puts into question what Minshew could possibly make at the end of the season after spending time behind Mahomes. The veteran has plenty of starting experience, most recently becoming a surprise option for the Colts and Raiders in back-to-back seasons.
Now, Minshew is content to take a step back and once again hit the market at the end of the season. If Bagent's deal is any indication, the Chiefs are going to be forced to turn the page and find another answer. A big piece of what has kept Kansas City on top is an understanding that you can only pay certain positions. Shelling out top dollar for a backup quarterback isn't among the team's priorities.
This is understandable with how more of an ironman Mahomes has been staying healthy or playing through injuries. There simply isn't a reason to pay top dollar with the Chiefs having far higher priorities, thus making Bagent's extension noteworthy for Kansas City's future and Minshew's expected exit.