Veteran Experience. When it comes to constructing an NFL roster, you have to consider how much veteran experience you have around you. You have to consider the amount of years that your team has underneath their belts, and if they really “know” what they are doing out on that field.

It’s an important factor for every Coach and GM to consider. That is why when Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles decided to bring in veteran QB Case Keenum this past Thursday….I started to get a bit excited for the future ahead.

Veteran QB Case Keenum is signing a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with the Chicago Bears, per source. Keenum now will help mentor Caleb Williams in Chicago like he did for CJ Stroud in Houston. pic.twitter.com/4wDG8s3RRT

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025

Keenum, for those of you who are unaware, has been in the league for 11-years; playing for teams like the Texans, Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Commanders, Browns, Bills, and now the Bears. In his decade-plus long career, the Houston product has put up a stat-line consisting of;

80 GP, 62.3% Cmp, 15,175 Yds, 79 TDs, 51 INTs

He has been a regular fixture in the NFL for quite some time, backing up the likes of CJ Stroud in Houston and Josh Allen in Buffalo. He has been a reliable call for teams to make whenever they are in need of a quarterback. But the highlight of his career? It has to be when he helped lead the Minnesota Vikings on a miraculous run to the playoffs in 2017.

Never forget the ❄️ Minneapolis Miracle! ❄️ @Vikings | #Skol

📺: #MINvsNO — Today 4:30pm ET on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app pic.twitter.com/n1LyxwPCsh

— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2020

But why is this such a significant signing, you may ask? Well…..it’s because this team was in DESPERATE NEED of a ‘veteran voice’ in the QB room last year. They needed someone who’s been around the block a time or two, who can really assist in the growth and the maturation of young Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent.

I mean just think about it; the top two QBs on this team last season had one year of experience between them. That was it! There wasn’t some notable veteran for them to lean on, whenever they needed help. They didn’t have another guy in that QB room with TONS of experience, who they could ask questions whenever they messed up. Sure, they had Keenan Allen and DJ Moore to help them out at times. But when it comes to signal callers in that locker room……it was really just them, and Austin Reed.

So to bring in a guy like Case early in the season like this…..it speaks volumes to how well Ryan Poles is taking care of this roster. It just tells me that this franchise is actually trying to build around Caleb, and make this into a winning ball club. Whether it’s the weapons that he has around him, the blocking in front of him, or the assistance that he has on the sideline; they want to win, and they don’t want #18 to turn into another statistic.

Now granted; some people may think otherwise, and believe that this is just a “non-story” about a team filling their depth chart. But to me…..I think this is just an extra special nuance to this organization. They are not only worrying about the physical aspects of the game, but the mental aspects as well. They are stopping at nothing to make sure that Caleb gets the development that he deserves, and it’s something that we’re not used to seeing as Bears fans.

Hopefully this works out well for them. But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.