Bears Actively Trying To Trade QB Jay Cutler, Retirement An Option?

Update:

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Bears QB Jay Cutler is one of several veteran players still determining what they’ll play in 2017 or retire.

“He’s one of several veterans who are still considering whether they want to play, whether they want to not play, retire, walk away,” Rapoport said on Wednesday’s “NFL Total Access.” “A lot of things in play here for Jay Cutler.”

Cutler is recovering from labrum surgery. Although, Rapoport says he’s doing well and is expected to be healthy at some point in the near future.

Rapoport also confirm that the Bears are trying to trade Cutler, but adds that this is just the precursor to releasing him if they’re unable to find a trade partner in the coming weeks.

———-

According to Jason La Canfora, the Bears are shopping QB Jay Cutler and would take a 2019 seventh-round pick for him. However, Chicago obviously faces a tall task of finding a team willing to take on the $72 million over four years remaining on his contract.

In regards to what his market could look like, La Canfora mentions that Jets executives have “some interest” in Cutler as a bridge quarterback.

“They believe he can play in the elements that are a reality in the AFC East, and they like his moxie and arm talent,” La Canfora writes. “And that was well before the Jets hired Jeremy Bates as their quarterback coach.”

Another option, according to La Canfora, could be the Bills if they can’t convince Tyrod Taylor to restructure his contract. Buffalo is expected to have interest in Tony Romo too, but La Canfora doesn’t expect Romo to end up in Buffalo, which could leave Cutler as their best available option.

La Canfora also believes the 49ers would make some sense for Cutler. Other speculative options mentioned by La Canfora include the Dolphins if Ryan Tannehill ends up needing knee surgery and the Texans.

———–

Jeff Darlington of ESPN, citing league sources, is reporting that the Bears have begun actively seeking a trade partner for QB Jay Cutler.

• Darlington mentions that this is really just the formal start to the Bears finally moving on from Cutler.
• According to Darlington, teams are aware that Cutler could threaten to hold out for retire if he ends up being traded to a team he doesn’t want to play for.
• Ian Rapoport mentions that the Bears informed Cutler that they planned to begin shopping him around the NFL back in mid-January.

Darlington doesn’t say who could have interest in Cutler or what the odds are of them finding an interested team willing to acquire him, but you can’t blame the Bears for trying to see what’s available for him.

The Jets have been tossed out as a potential landing spot for Cutler now that they’ve hired Jeremy Bates, but reports have since downplayed them as a realistic option.

Yesterday, Peter King of TheMMQB.com mentioned that he wouldn’t be shocked to see Cutler end up with the Cardinals. However, Kent Somers later reported that the Cardinals have “zero interest” in adding Cutler this offseason. (NFLTR)

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. According to OverTheCap.com, trading or releasing Cutler would free up $14 million of available cap space for the Bears.

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.