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NFL Draft Rumors: Bears eyeing trade with Titans involving No. 2 pick, Jay Cutler

By Patrick Schmidt

Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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 Are the Chicago Bears seriously considering trading up in the NFL Draft to select Heisman Trophy winner, Marcus Mariota and pawning Jay Cutler off on the Tennessee Titans?

You know the NFL Draft is approaching when wild rumors start creeping up about teams moving up in the draft and crazy trade proposals take center state.

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While the assumption is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to take Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall pick, the real intrigue begins at the No. 2 pick where the Tennessee Titans are on the clock, at least for now.

Jason Cole of Bleacher Report dropped a juicy rumor on Monday saying Marcus Mariota is gaining more traction in Chicago and the Bears could make a bold move with the Titans to get their No. 2 pick and Jay Cutler would be a part of the trade.

Cole says the belief in the organization is that Mariota may be the answer at quarterback and trading Cutler is a possibility, citing Cutler’s college history at Vanderbilt, but just because he played college football in Nashville doesn’t mean that NFL franchise wants him.

Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt may have a preference have his team’s quarterback be a veteran like he had in Kurt Warner when he was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Philip Rivers when he was the offensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers.

However, is it worth acquiring a veteran like Cutler and his contract when the playoffs aren’t within reach this year?

As puzzling as this sounds from the Titans perspective, it is just as puzzling from the Bears perspective.

Yes, the worst kept secret in the NFL is the Bears aren’t committed to Cutler, even though they are on the hook for a boatload of cash this year after failing to trade him earlier this season before his guaranteed money kicked in.

New head coach John Fox has already said Cutler will have to beat out Jimmy Clausen for the starting job, but considering the Bears have a first-year general manager and new coaching staff, mortgaging the future for Mariota would seem like a risk that outweighs the potential reward.

Mariota had a wonderful college career with the Oregon Ducks, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Ducks to the national championship game last season, but his ability to fit in a pro-style offense and take snaps under center is a legitimate concern.

The Bears may view any trade that sees Cutler on another team worth the risk, but if you have to throw in this year’s No. 1 pick, a second round pick and next year’s No. 1 pick, that price may be too rich for the Bears who can simply release Cutler at season’s end and use a No. 1 pick on a quarterback next year.

If they did this potential trade they would be putting all their eggs in the Mariota basket and are you ready to say Mariota will be better than Cutler in 2015? Further, the Bears have so many holes to address on both sides of the ball and need an infusion of youth on the roster, which makes this rumor’s chances of coming to fruition about as likely as Cutler winning the vote for mayor of Chicago.

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