Jay Cutler Should Stay with the Chicago Bears

As the season winds down, the media has once again fired up the tired narrative of should Jay Cutler be a Bear next season. The answer is simple, yes. The reasons are simple, as follows:

1. Contract. Many cite that Jay is expensive. Reality next season his total cap number is $17M. Which will rank him 15th among all QB’s for 2016. That makes his salary cheap for a top 10 QB.

2. That is right, currently Cutler is ranked 9th by Football Outsiders. Why do you trade or cut a QB that has played well and gives your team the best chance of winning? You don’t.

3. There are no viable replacements. Free Agent QB market is thin as outlined by Over the Cap. They draft is weak at QB and while Fales has shown some abilities, he is untested and not ready to take over the #1 spot.

4. Pace and Fox are here to win. Yes the Bears are rebuilding but that doesn’t mean you forego winning. As mentioned earlier, Cutler gives the Bears that opportunity.

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When you take in an account a cheap contract, his success this season and the Bears organization commitment to win you can see easily why Cutler is the best option for 2016 and beyond.

Other news:

2015 First Round selection Kevin White will remain on PUP. That will in effect shut White down for the remainder of the season, including no practices.

They released one tine Steeler first Round pick, Ziggy Hood and promoted ILB John Timu from the PS. Timmu saw action in the Bears first four games this season.

The Bears signed one of the tryout players, defensive lineman Toby Johnson to the practice squad. An undrafted rookie free agent from Georgia, Johnson (6-foot-3, 312 pounds), was previously with the Tennessee Titans.

They also signed wide receiver/tight end Marcus Lucas to the practice squad. Lucas (6-4, 235), who spent last season on the Carolina Panthers practice squad and also has been with the Miami Dolphins.

Power Rankings: Most of the boards have dropped the Bears down but only slightly. The Bears are averaging around the 20th position.

As of today, the Bears would get the 10th pick overall in the first round in the 2016 draft. Based on the uneven play of McClellin, Jones, Anderson et al, I would expect a long look at ILB in the first round.

Looking to 2016 roster changes:

While it’s too early to speculate who might be not returning I think it is safe to say the Bears will take a hard look at Bennett, Bushrod, Royal, Ball and Rolle. They equal $24M against the cap for 2016. On the other hand, the Bears probably make a concerted effort to keep Zach Miller, Sam Acho, Jarvis Jenkins, Tracy Porter. One interesting decision will be Shea McClellin.

Two players the Bears will focus on will be Jeffery and possibly Forte.