NFL Trade Machine: Jay Cutler To The Washington Redskins
By Erik Lambert
Oct 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
November 3rd is less than a week away, and with it comes the highly-anticipated NFL trade deadlines. While nowhere near as active as the NBA or MLB, there is always the possibility of something happening that is far from expected. It merely takes the right set of circumstances. Hence why there is speculation.
ESPN reporter Greg Garber posed a few intriguing ones. Perhaps none more so than where he offered to send veteran Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
"“Proposed trade No. 5:Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler to Washington Redskins for quarterback Kirk Cousins and a third-round draft choiceActually, the Redskins tried to land Cutler in the spring of 2009, but he was eventually dealt from Denver to Chicago for Kyle Orton and two first-round picks and one third-rounder. Congratulations, Daniel Snyder, the former Vanderbilt Commodore has finally landed.Things have gotten stale in Chi-town lately. After taking the Bears to an 11-5 record in 2010 and the NFC title game, it has been four seasons without a postseason game and, quite likely, a fifth. Cutler has always possessed breathtaking talent, but he has yet to be a consistent winner; the Bears are 33-37 since that sweet season five years ago. Cutler has produced 190 touchdown passes, 134 interceptions and nearly 30,000 yards in his career. This year he has been typically serviceable but would benefit from a change of culture.The Bears’ defense is so bad it’s hard to justify paying and playing a quarterback of his magnitude.The Redskins are 3-4 and, surprisingly, only one game out of first in the meager NFC East. Snyder has been relatively quiet over the past few years as the Robert Griffin III drama has played out in public. Providing he’s healthy (which is one reason he isn’t playing), the team won’t have to pay him the $16 million his contract calls for in 2016.Cutler’s cap number this season, oddly enough, is $16.5 million, and the average figure for the remaining five years of his contract is about $18 million annually, although his guaranteed money runs out after next season.The Redskins, with a middle-of-the-pack salary-cap cushion of $7.2 million, could make this work with some cooperation from Cutler.”"
This isn’t the first time Cutler and the Redskins have been connected, as the quote indicates. Either way, the deal does make some sense. Washington has a glorious opportunity to win the NFC East what with Dallas so banged up. However, aside from his epic comeback over Tampa Bay, Kirk Cousins has underwhelmed. This would represent a significant talent upgrade at the risk of schematic and age concerns.
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On the flip side, the benefits to the Bears come from the 3rd round draft pick and the considerable cap relief. Cousins would be free to start the rest of the season but the door would then be open for Chicago to enter the 2016 draft seeking their next quarterback, this one a personal choice of new GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox.
Certainly not something that should be expected to happen, but an intriguing scenario assuming the Redskins don’t trust Cousins can get them over the hump.