Gregg Rosenthal

The acquisition of Jay Cutler answers the prayers of every Bears fan haunted by flashbacks to Cade McCown, Jim Miller, and Sexy Rexy. It also solves the biggest riddle of the NFL offseason. Sweet baby Jay has found a home that will love him.

One bold solution by Bears GM Jerry Angelo, however, raises a new set of questions to be answered. Let’s take a crack at them. 

1. Did the Broncos get enough for Cutler?
It’s fair to criticize the Broncos for allowing the Cutler situation to spiral out of control, necessitating a trade. It’s hard to criticize the haul Denver acquired once it decided to deal. Two first-round picks, a third-round pick and a decent starting quarterback in Kyle Orton is quite a haul considering the circumstances.  

2. Who will be Denver’s starting quarterback?
It will be difficult for the most die-hard Broncos fan to muster enthusiasm for a Chris Simms vs. Kyle Orton quarterback competition. The new Denver brass, coach Josh McDaniels and GM Brian Xanders, feel differently. 

Simms was given a surprisingly large backup contract with playing-time incentives, so the Broncos believe he fits their system. 

Orton doesn’t have a big arm, but he’s a heady quarterback who was a key part of the deal for Denver, which reportedly preferred him to Jason Campbell. (Although perhaps less than Brady Quinn.) 

Give Orton the slight edge in this competition, if only because he’s played the last two years.  There is a chance, however, Denver’s “quarterback of the future” isn’t on the roster yet. …

3. Are the Broncos still in the Mark Sanchez sweepstakes?
The Broncos now have great draft flexibility. One school of thought says that Denver didn’t decide to trade Cutler until they had a successor in mind. USC’s Mark Sanchez makes a lot of sense. 

Sanchez may not be available when Denver is on the clock with the 12th overall pick, but now it has the ammunition to move up for him. Sanchez has the smarts and athleticism to be Josh McDaniels’ new Matt Cassel. And with two veterans in place in Denver, the underclassman could learn from the bench for a year.

Orton and Simms could be temporary solutions.

4. What teams not involved in the Cutler trade lost the most?
Detroit and Tampa Bay were reportedly in on the Cutler talks the first time around when Cassel was involved, but they weren’t serious contenders this time. Both franchises still need quarterbacks and Detroit just watched a division rival solve their problem at the position.

Washington and Cleveland were also reportedly in the mix for Cutler until the end, possibly in a three-team proposal. Now both franchises have to explain to their quarterbacks, Jason Campbell and Brady Quinn, why they tried to dangle them. Don’t expect either quarterback to pull a Cutler, but the reports will have repercussions. 

5. How will Jay Cutler fit in Chicago?
At some point next season, Cutler will pine for his days in Denver. Cutler is used to playing for a brilliantly aggressive play-caller in Mike Shanahan. Now he gets, uh, Ron Turner. Turner’s offense will remain full of meat, potatoes, tight ends, and a heavy dose of running back Matt Forte.  

Cutler leaves an explosive group of receivers led by Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler to join a team that calls Devin Hester its “No. 1” receiver. Second-year pro Earl Bennett lined up as a starter opposite Hester at Chicago’s insanely early recent minicamp; Bennett has zero career catches.

Perhaps the most-talented quarterback in the NFL, Cutler will avoid getting buried in the Soldier Field quarterback graveyard. But his numbers will suffer, and a Pro Bowl invite won’t be an annual rite. Bears fans celebrated Thursday, but Cutler’s fantasy owners should be depressed.

6. Will the Bears give Jay Cutler a new contract?
Bears GM Jerry Angelo told the Chicago Sun-Times that he hasn’t spoken to Cutler’s agent Bus Cook about a new contract. Don’t expect that to last for long. Cook’s fingerprints were all over Cutler’s displeasure in Denver, and he successfully orchestrated a way out. This wasn’t only about hurt feelings.

7. Are the Bears now the favorites in the NFC North?
Lost in the Cutler excitement Thursday was Chicago’s signing of future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace, who should solidify Cutler’s blind side when he’s healthy.

But that doesn’t solve all of Chicago’s woes. 

The rest of Chicago’s offensive line is mediocre. The receiver group is one of the weakest in the league. The defense, usually strong under coach Lovie Smith, is coming off a thoroughly mediocre season. The Bears need to find a pass rush after tying for 22^nd in the league in sacks.

Cutler makes the Bears a Super Bowl contender, but they must improve internally on defense to make the playoffs. The NFC North is shaping up to be one of football’s best divisions again. 

The Packers also have an impressive young quarterback and a solid young roster. The Vikings are still the nastiest in the trenches. The NFC North will be a hard-fought three-team race, starting with Cutler’s Bears debut Week 1 in Lambeau. Let the hype begin.

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