Mark Sanchez signs with Bears in a move that just feels right

The Chicago Bears have signed a backup quarterback. Mark Sanchez has joined the team to back up newly signed Mike Glennon, as first reported by Ian Rapoport. Heading into his eighth season in the league, Sanchez will be playing for his fourth NFL team. The Bears made it official Friday morning.

Competing with Connor Shaw and David Fales for Chicago’s backup gig, Sanchez figures to be a lock for the 53-man roster. Sanchez is quite a ways removed from his last meaningful NFL action, but his experience should be beneficial for a young quarterback in need of some veteran leadership.

Sanchez finished the 2016 regular season as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, playing backup for rookie Dak Prescott in Tony Romo’s absence. He was only signed to a one-year deal in Texas after a super short preseason stint with the Denver Broncos. He only saw playing time in two games and yet still managed to throw two interceptions on just 18 passing attempts.

In a career marred with turnovers — and perhaps best depicted by the infamous butt-fumble — Sanchez has seemingly been demoted to official NFL backup. He spent two years with the Philadelphia Eagles, first in a starting role in 2014 and then as a backup to Sam Bradford in 2015. He did little to shed his turnover-prone image during his time in Philly, recording 15 interceptions and four fumbles over 13 games.

Sanchez did have a little resurgence when he joined the Eagles in 2014, recording his only two seasons with a completion percentage over 60. The quarterback was benched by the New York Jets the entire 2013 season, and he had a lot to prove when he got the chance to get back into a starting lineup.

His less than amicable departure from the Jets came years after the organization drafted Sanchez out of USC at No. 5 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Considered pro-ready, the quarterback got the starting job his rookie season. He finished his first year in the league with a miserable 20 interceptions and eight fumbles. He went on to have two 3,000-plus passing yards seasons, marking the only two years with the Jets that he would record more touchdowns than interceptions.

The Jets seemingly had no choice but to bench Sanchez when they drafted who they hoped would be the next rookie sensation (but wasn’t). In his four seasons with the team, he totaled 68 touchdowns against 69 interceptions and 26 fumbles.

Now, the veteran quarterback is hoping to contribute in some way with the Bears, who have been one of the most unpredictable teams in the 2017 offseason. In addition to Glennon and Sanchez, Chicago has signed Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, Dion Sims, Benny Cunningham, Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper, and Quintin Demps.

If Sanchez sees the field, he’ll be the latest quarterback to suit up for Chicago, which has struggled at the position recently. Last year, the Bears started Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer, and Matt Barkley, all of whom are no longer with the team.