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ESPN’s One‑for‑One Bagent‑for‑Richardson Pitch Draws Skepticism

Large cap‑cost gaps and the Bears’ reported demand for a second‑round pick make a straight swap unlikely.

Overview

  • On May 27, ESPN analyst Dan Graziano publicly floated a hypothetical one‑for‑one trade sending Bears backup Tyson Bagent to the Colts for former No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson.
  • Tyson Bagent remains on Chicago’s roster as the No. 2 quarterback behind Caleb Williams and has drawn confirmed trade interest this offseason, but no deal has been struck.
  • Anthony Richardson requested a trade in February and is considered a doubtful fit after three injury‑marred, inconsistent seasons that have lowered teams’ willingness to pay draft capital for him.
  • A major barrier is cost: Bagent’s 2026 cap hit is about $4.75 million while Richardson’s 2026 charge is roughly $10.8 million, which would force complex salary or pick adjustments in any trade.
  • The Bears publicly value Bagent highly — coach Ben Johnson praised him and reporting suggests Chicago would seek about a second‑round pick — so the Colts would likely need more than a straight player swap to reach a deal.