49ers May Target QB Jay Cutler This Offseason?

Jason Cole of B/R has spoken to two sources who have indicated that the 49ers may target veteran QB Jay Cutler if they’re unable to trade for either Kirk Cousins or Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.

The expectation remains that the Bears will finally release Cutler this offseason, which should come as no surprise. Interestingly enough, Cole says that Cutler has a “strong connection” to Mike and Kyle Shanahan from their time together with the Broncos several years ago.

All indications are that Shanahan will look to overhaul the team’s options at quarterback this offseason in free agency and/or the draft.

Cutler, 33, is a former first-round pick of the Broncos back in 2006. He spent three years in Denver before he was traded to the Bears in 2009. He’s currently in the fourth year of his seven-year, $126.7 million contract that included $54 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $12.5 million for the 2017 season to go along with a $2.5 million roster bonus.

Cutler has no guaranteed money left on his contract and Chicago would only take a $2 million salary cap hit by releasing him this year. The Bears would pick up $13 million in salary-cap space should they cut him loose.

In 2016, Cutler appeared in five games and throw for 1,059 yards while completing 59.1 percent of his passes to go along with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

We’ll have more regarding Cutler and where he could end up as the news is available.