Tyson Bagent is a solid backup quarterback with NFL starting experience. He has been good when called upon, with a 2-2 record when handed the keys to the castle. Those efforts came as an undrafted rookie out of Shepherd, without much experience or professional reps to his credit.

He’d be even better now that he’s been around more. He’s also a good locker-room guy who understands his role as well as anyone and worked hard to support Caleb Williams last season.

Why, then, would the Chicago Bears go out and add another quarterback? It goes along with this offseason’s overarching theme: The team is doing whatever possible to support Williams.

They signed Case Keenum, a 12-year veteran with 66 starts and a few years as a full-time No. 1, who also understands his current place as an NFL backup. The Bears hope Keenum can help guide Williams through an important stretch.

“He’s got skins on the wall,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters Wednesday after an OTA practice. “I mean, he’s been to playoff games, he’s won playoff games. He’s done it at a high level. He’s been the No. 2 quarterback at a number of different places as well. His experience level is off the charts. He’s seen a little bit of everything that this league has to offer.

“I can say from my experience of being in the room with him, he finds a good way to ask questions that I might not, or (offensive coordinator Declan Doyle or quarterback coach J.T. Barrett) — we might not have provided the answer to prior. He does a good job of filling those gaps. And then of course, we’re constrained so much by the time limits in the springtime that he’s able to help the process when we’re not in there as coaches.” 

Johnson brings up some good points in answering the original question. Keenum has done so much that Williams hasn’t, with four years as a full-time starter and two playoff games under his belt. He has solid overall numbers and can come through in a pinch. That includes the “Minnesota Miracle,” while with the Vikings. He knows how to study. He knows how to assist as a backup and is willing to impart his years of NFL knowledge to the next generation. He did so last year with C.J. Stroud in Houston.

Keenum thought retirement was coming before a scheduled 15-minute meeting with Johnson. They ended up talking for a lot longer. Keenum then watched Williams’ tape. He came away impressed by both guys and wanting to be part of this Chicago endeavor.

Keenum decided to join a crowded quarterback room with no guarantee of being No. 2, understanding his real job description–– to help Williams develop. He found someone with “effortless arm talent,” someone willing to listen and ask questions.

“He’s a sponge,” Keenum told reporters in a press conference. “For being an all-world talent, a guy who’s since high school been the best player on any field anywhere he has ever stepped on, to be humble enough to ask me questions and watch and learn has been really refreshing to see. A guy that young and that talented but still take what I have to say. It’s been really fun.” 

Keenum also has experience transitioning from a spread offense to a pro-style offense and what that requires. That includes personnel groupings and working in and out of the huddle. There are specific techniques to learn, a schematic language to master. There’s a lot to do outside of natural development as a second-year pro.

Keenum can tell Williams is taking that work seriously.

“He’s beating me in the building,” Keenum said. “That’s the type of guy he is. He wants it that bad. … Just talking ball, it’s getting to know each other. That’s what the spring is. First of all, getting to know each other and speaking the same language. Then getting into the weeds a little bit of how to play quarterback and what that looks like.”

Keenum is a competitor, too, and wants to be the first one off the bench. Bagent does, too, and there will be a battle for the role. The veteran would expect nothing less.

“I’ve competed my whole life,” Keenum said. “I have a knack of sticking around and being ready to go when my name is called, no matter when that is or how that is.”