Cutler is a Bear

The Chicago Bears took a large step towards improving their offense today, acquiring Jay Cutler from the Broncos. The Bears gave up a lot: current starter Kyle Orton plus their first round pick in 2009 and 2010. The Broncos sent back a 2009 3rd rounder in addition to Cutler.

Update: Now reports indicate the Bears gave the Broncos the 2009 3rd rounder, and the Broncos gave back a 2009 5th rounder. So the trade is
Broncos get: Orton, 2009 1st, 3rd, 2010 1st
Bears get: Cutler, 2009 5th
Jerry Angelo went all in here, I like this trade less than the original because the Bears do have holes, and it will be very difficult to fill those holes with 1 pick in the first 3 rounds of this year's draft. Especially with a kick returner as the best receiver on their roster.

The Bears haven't had a quarterback of Cutler's talents...well...ever. Their offense immediately takes a few steps forward, and you have to think they're now looking at wide receiver with a 2nd or 3rd round pick, as why buy a Mercedes and give it a 4-cylinder engine? The Bears have also upgraded the number of 12-year-old girls on their roster, as evidenced by Cutler's antics over the last month.

Denver certainly has downgraded at quarterback, but they have also swapped the next Brett Favre in terms of drama for one of the lowest maintenance signal callers in the league (this guy sat behind the Rex Grossman experience for 3 years). Plus, with 2 1st round picks, if they want to move up in the 1st round to draft Stafford or Sanchez, they should have sufficient ammunition to do so. I would be very surprised if we get through Day 1 of the draft without the Broncos adding another quarterback to their roster.

Kyle Orton will get to answer the question of whether he's really a limited robot behind center, or whether he was held back by cheap, lead-based toys in Chicago. Fairly or unfairly, I don't see Denver hitching their train to Kyle Orton.

And Jay Cutler? He gets the chance to show whether he's an incorrigible gunslinger (a rich man's Rex Grossman if you will), or whether he was pressed into that role on account of a defense that couldn't stop anyone. With the Bears Cutler has a good support structure: a good running game, a good defense, and a decent offensive line. Update: the Bears have upgraded their line too, signing former #1 overall pick Orlando Pace to a 3-year deal. Pace isn't a top LT anymore, thanks to numerous injuries, but he's a definite upgrade over what Chicago has at the position. His receiving options have taken a hit though. Going from Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal to Devin Hester and Greg Olsen is like going from top sirloin to sloppy joes.

Whether the Bears win this trade or not comes down to whether or not Cutler can adapt to his surroundings. He has never won, but he hasn't had a ton of help either (we've covered Denver's shortcomings, and Vanderbilt only stopped getting dumped on in the SEC last year). If Cutler can embrace a slightly lesser role, he instantly makes Chicago a dangerous team, certianly a favorite in the NFC North. If he cannot, then it will be interesting to see how he reacts when Brian Urlacher tells him to stop blowing games. Based on this past month, I don't forsee that exhcange going well.