By Scott
The long, dragged-out saga of McCutler-Gate finally came to an end just over a week ago as the Broncos shipped Jay Cutler and a 5th-round draft pick off to Chicago in exchange for Kyle Orton, 2009 first- and third-round picks and a 2010 first-round pick. The impacts of this trade are rather significant on both sides; however, the biggest impact may be felt on both the Chicago and Denver party scenes. The best part about this is that Josh McDaniels was reportedly taken back by Jay Cutler's drinking habits. I guess McDaniels is not a blogger. Anyway, let's get to the real effects of the trade
1. Draft Strategies
Now that the Bears have finally found themselves a quarterback, they're open to fill up other holes in the draft. The Bears could go in a few different directions starting with the most obvious: Wide Receiver. Without a first round pick, Chicago could be seeing the likes of Brian Robiskie or Kenny Britt available in the second round, depending on how the rest of the draft plays out. Da Bears should also be looking for a running back capable of immediately relieving Matt Forte's workload, and perhaps a young linebacker to work behind Brian Urlacher or Lance Briggs.
The Broncos have plenty of room for improvement with the addition of a 1st and 3rd round pick. Denver could very well draft USC Quarterback Mark Sanchez if he falls to them with the 14th pick. However, with Seattle showing strong interest, Sanchez could be gone early. If Seattle passes on Sanchez and Denver is in fact interested, look for them to swap picks with the Jags or Bengals. The Broncos could also deal one of their 1st round picks to pick up a few later round picks. Whether or not the Broncos pursue Sanchez, this should be a heavy defensive draft. With virtually every defensive position as a weak spot, expect Denver to load up on defensive talent in hopes of building a solid foundation for years to come.
2. Impact on Teams
The addition of Cutler is a big stride for Chicago's hopes of making a championship run while this defense still has some gas left in the tank. The Bear's offense jumps from borderline terrible to pretty good. With a foundation of Cutler, Matt Forte, Greg Olsen, and Devin Hester, this unit could produce some fireworks. Chicago still needs to sign a veteran such as a Torry Holt or Marvin Harrison to groom Hester and open up the passing game. This would allow Hester to effectively get 1-on-1 matchups and get some deep looks.
While the Denver offense may have taken a hit, things may not be as bad as they seem. Remember, Kyle Orton was having a spectacular year prior to his ankle injury, and still managed to throw for just under 3,000 yards and 18 TDs with a sub-par supporting cast. And, if Orton does not pan out, Denver still has Chris Simms waiting in the wings. Simms was a coveted free-agent this offseason, and the Titan's attempts to re-sign him combined with the list of teams that were interested in his services, proves that Simms is considered as a capable starter. Whether or not the additions of Correll Buckhalter and J.J. Arrington at running back are long term solutions, the Broncos should be able to produce sufficiently offensively. However, with such a poor defense this is not a playoff team with or without Jay Cutler.
3. Who Got the Better Deal?
It's really impossible to say now due to the fact that draft picks made up the bulk of this deal, but I think Denver will end up with a better deal. While they will miss Cutler this year, they have two very capable, veteran quarterbacks on the roster, and an opportunity to build a special defense with 5 draft picks in the first 84. As long as the Broncos don't entirely screw this draft up, Denver will forget about Cutler in no time.
Chicago will certainly improve and gain merit as a nice sleeper pick this year, but I don't see Cutler leading this team deep into the playoffs. The Bear's schedule may prove a bit more grueling than the Bronco's, as Chicago will travel to Lambeau and Minnesota, rather than sunny Oakland and Kansas City. If Chicago can make some moves to really improve his supporting cast, then they'll start making some some noise as a real contender. Cutler will have a nice, prosperous career with the Bears, and it's entirely possible he wins championships with them, but not this year.
Photo Courtesy of The Denver Post
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