FanPost

What would it take to get you on board with a trade for Cutler?

I think the up or down poll that was on the site a few days ago showed that Bills fans really aren't all that interested in giving up anything for Cutler. PFT has raised the idea that the Bears may be forced to ship Cutler and something else to get another team to take him off their hands. My question to you is what would the Bears have to add to Cutler to get you to think that this was a good idea.

Pros:

  • Cutler has a strong arm. He can make every throw
  • Cutler isn't a statue, something that Bills fans can appreciate in a QB. He's not a runner either but he can move around and buy time.
  • Cutler - when he's on - can be unstoppable.
Cons:
  • Cutler - when he isn't on - can be horrendous.
  • Cutler gets rattled when he isn't protected.
  • Cutler is a me-first kind of guy.
I've compared him to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Cutler has a stronger arm and his best is better than anything Fitz can do. However, Fitz doesn't get rattled as easily and is far, far cheaper. I don't want either but if I had to choose between the two I'd pick Fitz. But Fitz doesn't come with extras....
Speaking of those extras, the Bears are in a tight spot. They've got holes all over the roster and about $110 million of cap space already committed in 2015. Trading Cutler's contract would drop the amount committed for 2015 to about $95 million. That translates into a lot of options for building a roster. You can see why the Bears might be well motivated to give up things of value in order to divest themselves of Cutler.
It looks like the Bills are going to have about $16 million in cap space in 2015. The team simply can't sign or franchise Hughes and take on Cutler's contract. Even if Cutler is willing to rework his deal - and he may be as he won't get anywhere near what he's due if the Bears bite the bullet and cut him - Buffalo still wouldn't have the cap space.
So, with that in mind. I've got a yes-no poll below. The Bears have a crying need for a pass rusher. The Bears will also pick between 8-12 in the first round. While it's doubtful that any team picking in that part of the first round would trade a 1st round pick for Hughes straight across (particularly a tagged Hughes), the Bears might as part of a deal that sends Cutler packing.
I understand that many would rather keep Hughes. What happens if Hughes won't sign? Franchise him and eat most of the cap space for a guy who may react poorly to being tagged? Buffalo took a gamble by letting Hughes reach the end of his contract. With big money around the corner - and agents telling him that (insert team name) will pay him x amount - it may be tough to get him back on the field in a Bills uniform. Shipping him to Chicago as part of a Cutler deal would eliminate that issue.
Buffalo would get Cutler and Chicago's first round pick. Cutler's contract would eat most of Buffalo's 2015 cap space, making it more difficult to sign free agents. Chicago would get rid of Cutler's contract and pick up a proven pass rusher.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.