The arguing between Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos has been well documented. After attempting to trade for Matt Cassel who new head coach Josh McDaniels worked with in New England, Cutler was angry and wanted to be traded. Today, he finally got his wish as he is going to the Chicago Bears. The Bears gave up a king’s ransom for Cutler including two first round picks, a third rounder and last year's starter at quarterback, Kyle Orton. Here is how I think the trade works out for both sides.
One of the Bears biggest problems the past few years has been the play at the quarterback position. That isn't the case anymore. Cutler is a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback who in his three year career has thrown for 51 touchdowns and is coming off a 2008 season in which he threw for 25 touchdowns and over 4500 yards. Cutler has arguably the strongest arm in football and gives the Bears the star power at quarterback they have been looking for since Jim McMahon.
The Bears now have a very good offensive nucleus to build around with Cutler, Matt Forte who is coming off a 1000 yard campaign as a rookie and the explosive Devin Hester at receiver. While receiver is still a need for the Bears, don't be surprised if you hear the name Earl Bennett frequently next year. Bennett played with Cutler at Vanderbilt and went on to become the all time leading receiver in SEC history.
Even though the Broncos got rid of a franchise quarterback, they still have the opportunity to be competitive next year. Orton doesn't have the passing ability of Cutler but he is a very good game manager who can throw the ball when necessary. If the Broncos aren't set on Orton, they now have the ability to trade into the top 10 and grab either Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez. Chances are Stafford will go number one to the Lions but if Sanchez is available at number eight, the Jaguars would love to trade down. While Cutler would have been a perfect fit for the new offense McDaniels is installing, Orton isn't a bad one year option while the Broncos groom a new quarterback for the future.
Overall, the Broncos are big winners in this trade. They received two first round picks, a third rounder and Orton for Cutler and a fifth rounder. That is a lot to give up for a "proven" quarterback who is 17-20 in his career as a starter and has never played in a playoff game. It has also been documented that Cutler has been known to get flustered by the way the media talks about him. If he feels that way in Denver, imagine how the pressure will be in one of the biggest media markets in the country? Cutler immediately makes the Bears a playoff contender in a weak NFC North, but in a city desperate for a winning sports team, anything short of a Super Bowl appearance will be a disappointment. This trade could be a very good one for both the Broncos and the Bears, but it also has the potential to be this decade's version of the Herschel Walker trade
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