The Chicago Bears are coming into the offseason with a new head coach and the team could consider a Jay Cutler trade in the hopes of drafting Marcus Mariota, as the Tennessee Titans could be interested in a deal and this comes as Matt Forte could get traded, as he is coming into the final year of his contract and may want a new deal or a raise coming into 2015.
The Bears won just five games last season and Cutler was not as effective on offense as he had been in the past. While Cutler put up great numbers stats-wise, the numbers did not translate into wins or even a consistent offense and now his future could be uncertain in Chicago. According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, the Bears are interested in Mariota and could consider trading Cutler to move up from their draft spot to pick the quarterback.
Cutler's future was up in the air since last season when Marc Trestman benched him for Jimmy Clausen and because of his large contract. That large contract was cited by many as a reason why Cutler would not be traded and once he hit a deadline and had a chunk of his 2016 salary guaranteed, many speculated that he would not be traded. New head coach John Fox also said that Cutler would be the starter for offseason workouts and added that he would have to win the job over the summer.
Now that could be changing a bit, as Cole writes that Mariota has "gained more and more traction" in the Bears organization and they could consider making the deal. The Tennessee Titans have the number two overall pick and most around the league see them as the key to the draft, as the Buccaneers are reportedly taking Jameis Winston number one overall.
Any team that wants Mariota likely will have to trade with the Titans, as Tennessee needs a quarterback and could grab him, while the Bears, Browns, Jets, Chargers and Redskins all have had reported interest. The Chargers are a team to watch, as Pro Football Talk reports that the team worked out Mariota and may consider trading Philip Rivers to get a deal done. Rivers is coming into the final year of his deal and the Chargers may want to secure a quarterback for the future after Rivers.
Mariota comes in after winning the Heisman trophy and he has been getting the most attention of any player in the draft with Winston likely going number one. The team also has Matt Forte as a possible trade option, as he is coming into the final year of his contract and may want a new deal. According to Pro Football Talk, Forte said his absence from voluntary offseason workouts has nothing to do with his contract, but the team may consider a move.
Forte is owed nearly $8 million and will be 30 years old when the season ends. Last season Forte had a great season with over 100 catches and 1038 yards, but the team could consider making a deal if it helps them get Mariota or another young running back in the draft, as the class this year is deep.
