Price for Cutler unclear
March 2nd, 2009 – 7:55 PM by Judd ZulgadThere is little doubt in my mind after spending a good portion of the day working on the Jay Cutler story that the Vikings have interest in the Pro Bowl quarterback. (Credit goes to the Denver Post for first reporting this.) In fact, I would not be surprised if the Vikings were one of the teams that has made an offer to Denver for the disgruntled quarterback.
If the Broncos do decide to trade Cutler — new coach Josh McDaniels is doing his best to make everyone believe the quarterback isn’t going anywhere — the big question will be the price. In the case of Matt Cassel, I made a mistake. The Vikings were interested in Cassel and when they backed off I thought it might have been because New England was asking for too much.
But when the Patriots dealt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to Kansas City on Saturday, all that went to New England was a second-round pick (34th overall selection) in the April draft. The reality is that it wasn’t the Patriots who were looking to make a killing in the Cassel sweepstakes but rather Cassel who wants a contract that would be tough to give to a player with only one year of starting experience.
Cutler is a much different story. This is a guy with a proven track record and someone the Vikings liked coming out of Vanderbilt in 2006. The Broncos, not the Vikings, traded up to the 11th overall pick to get Cutler and so far they have been rewarded. Cutler, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last spring, has been the Broncos’ starter the past two seasons. In 2008, he finished third in the NFL with 4,526 yards passing and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Cutler isn’t a one-year wonder — the fear with Cassel — and this time the asking price in a trade would be huge. But even if the Vikings are willing to meet the Broncos’ demands, and that assumes that Denver will trade Cutler, it’s not known if what Minnesota offers will be a fit. The Broncos’ backup quarterback last season was Patrick Ramsey and he is now a free agent.
Thus, if Cutler is dealt and Ramsey signs elsewhere, the Broncos won’t have a starting quarterback. The Vikings could offer one of their QBs but would Denver bite on that? Tarvaris Jackson, taken in the same draft as Cutler, and Sage Rosenfels are slated to battle for the starting job but neither one has established himself as a starter in the NFL. Does McDaniels want to enter his first season with an unproven starter?
Even if Denver feels it can find a quarterback somewhere else and listens to the Vikings, where would Rick Spielman and Co., start? The team’s first-round pick (No. 22 overall) would be a jumping off point but it certainly wouldn’t get the deal done. More draft picks and perhaps players would need to be included.
It might be far too much. Just remember, the Vikings were willing to part with a first- and two third-round picks to get Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen last April and the move proved to be a good one. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf likes to make a splash and certainly isn’t afraid to spend his money — the team’s failed attempt to land wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was the latest example of this aggressive approach – and there would be no bigger move than bringing a quarterback like Cutler to Minnesota.
29 Responses to "Price for Cutler unclear"
Everybodys gonna think I’m nuts but I would give up a first this year and a few lower picks next year for this guy.At least. I think hes way better than what we have now.Just please draft a RT.
The Vikings are built to win within the next couple of years…will someone over in Winter Park finally get a QB that can actually fuel this team?? It’s been discussed by everyone on ESPN, S.I., etc. that the one piece missing is the QB and that it’s also the only position they don’t seem to take seriously. Just get it done!
We’re going into Childress’s, the QB guru, fourth season here at Minnesota and we STILL do not have a quality QB.
Mr. Wilf, did you know that?
Mr. Wilf, did you also know that one of your employees was wagging his weenie behind you while you were on the air.
And that your head coach knew this and did nothing about it (Other than take some real creepy long looks at it)
Did you know this?
give up a 1st and 3rd this year and maybe a 2nd next too………he is worth it, that is close to the same value as we gave up for Allen then the only needs to address in the draft are WR,CB and another DT—-since all not named Williams suck badly
give up a 1st and 3rd this year and maybe a 2nd next too………he is worth it, that is close to the same value as we gave up for Allen then the only needs to address in the draft are WR,CB,RT and another DT—-since all not named Williams suck badly…Im still a believer that we will go get Coles and try for Tra Thomas the RT from Philly
I do not think that you are nuts briano29 though the Nfl Draft will be boring this year without a first rounder, but this guy will get us deep into the playoffs.
Hes not worth that much biggedelt.
You have to wonder about the mental make-up of Cutler. He hasn’t won anything, and then he starts to whine and hiss like a school girl when things don’t go his way. Does this raise a red flag to anybody or do we just assumes that he squats when he pees.
Couldn’t we work something like our 1st or 2nd, with T Jack &/or CT? I know CT is valuable, but w/ AP we could pick up a couple of good serviceable backs via FA and be settled in the backfield. We will need to give something up, but we almost have to in order to take advantage of what we have in place….
heck why not give up the 1st and 3rd and give them sage?
he is a bit of a whiner…down here in san diego we get to see him twice a year..he has game, but has an attitude.
i am not sure if that would be good or bad in Minny. he plays hard and wants to win.
I compare him to Culpepper. He throws a lot some TD’s but he also throws a lot of INT’s and he fumbles a lot (24 times the past 3 years) that’s a scary number.
[…] One amusing scenario has him going to Minnesota, right after the Vikes traded for and extended Blue Steel Hawk Down aka The Rosencopter. If that were to go down, I think Sage might just literally go on live television and cry until someone dragged him out of frame. […]
Cutler has a proven track record as what? What has he won? He can pack the stat sheet some days, but has yet to win a big gamre, even after he was given the job over a winning qb. Some want to give up CT for this?? Cutler is fools gold. I trust management sees that. Go Vikes!!
Fred votes no to this head case!
The Vikes have bungled free agency thus far in my opinion.
1. They waited too long to take care of their own, meaning the first day or so was spent trying to woo Birk and K-sasser back to the team… something that could’ve been done anywhere from 2 weeks to a year ago.
2. Being inactive ensured that they miss out on the only player that was a SERIOUS upgrade on O-Line available, Jason Brown. Brown signed with NFC foe, the Rams… and now the Vikings are risking having an unproven, second year guy in the middle of the line (Sullivan).
3. With the exception of Leigh Bodden, the Vikings have allowed every top tier cornerback to be signed by other teams without so much as a visit. If the plan is Cris Carr (who is not nearly as dangerous on defense as he is on special teams) then the better get working because he’s meeting with the Browns right now.
4. They put a ton of time into upgrading a the wideout position, of which we had nobody leave in free agency, by trying to sign Housh. This is great, but before you upgrade a position in which nobody has left, don’t you think you should be more worried about filling the holes created by Sharper, Birk, Farwell, etc? The only success we had by trying to get Housh was by driving up the price for our NFC foes.
5. If Cassell was available for a 2nd rounder, why didn’t we get him? I’m not a huge fan, but seriously… a second freakin’ rounder!?! That makes the Sage deal look like much less of a great deal than I thought it was.
So what are the right moves?
1. Monitor the Cutler situation. He’s a solid QB worth getting for the right price, and it doesn’t hurt to keep an ear to the ground between now and draft day.
2. Sign Leanord Weaver, the fullack. We need as many threats on offense as possible to keep as many eyes off of A.D. as we can. Weaver is one of those rare fullbacks these days who would actually need a linebacker assigned to him on most downs. Also, he’d help out with our 3rd down and red zone percentages. At 26, he’s young enough to provide us with a quality fullback for years to come. Tahi scares nobody with the ball.
3. Fax an offer to Jermaine Phillips right now. He’s the best safety available and knows the system well. He’s like Sharper was 3 years ago. Tyrell can spend a few more years on special teams and it wont hurt him none. Phillips would be a big boost to the secondary.
4. Sign Leigh Bodden. A great press corner who could replace Winfield as our #1 when he leaves after this season. This would also allow Winfield to slide into the slot on nickle downs, where he’s most effective.
5. Re-Sign Matt Birk… if it isn’t too late. They should’ve taken care of this a long time ago if they were’nt going to be serious about going after Jason Brown.
6. Sign Ray Willis. He’s a solid right tackle who’s just now hitting his prime. Plus, he’d come a lot cheaper than Runyan or Thomas.
7. Give a looksie at Coles, but do not over-pay.
There, that’s the recipe for 12-4. Plus, it’d allow us to draft freely for Best Players Available.
wow….this would also make Housh really hate himself…..plus I think a Pro bowl QB is a lot harder to get than a All-pro DE so why not offer about the same value????? allen really only had 1 dominant season and we gave 3 picks for him
great options ak…
If we get Cutler, we have Cutler and AP for at least another 5-6 very good years, a.k.a. their PRIME. How exciting would that be along with a pretty young defense as well (Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, etc.)?? GET R DUN!
Good article on espn.com about the entire Houshmanzadah affair: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth Even though getting him would have been nice, I still feel our money is better spent on a solid, proven QB. Cutler is prime for the taking and worth giving up too much. We need to strike while the iron is hot since we are a good QB away from a SB, or 2. Who cares about stinking it up 5-6 years from now because we don’t have draft picks when we have 2 SBs in our back pocket?? Now is the time - get it done!!
The only way that the vikings get Cutler is if they can swing a 3 team deal to get Denver a new starting QB. maybe pull a deal with cleveland to send Derek Anderson and Shaun Rogers (who wants out of Cleveland) to Denver, Cutler to us, and our 2nd rounder + unknown to clevend.
[…] Access Vikings: – […]
hofer4t has it right, Denver will want a QB and Sage won’t cut it.
But look at Cutler this year, in perfect health 25 TD’s 20 T.O.(18 int’s and 2 Fumbles).
In a bad health year (2007) 20 TD and 18 T.O. (14, 4).
Sage is almost equal in stats and will have a good OL with the Vikings, and decent(?) wr’s. But a running game that is HUGE, which Denver and Houston does not have.
Ask yourself, is that worth it in a low T.O. offense?
There’s a report that there might be an offer of Cutler to Browns for Quinn, Rodgers and 3rd rounder? Makes sense. They have more leverage than the Vikings do (QB and NT available).
Cutler would be a great acquisition. For those who say he hasn’t won anything, he has never had a defense. Last year the Broncos were on their 8th running back and he still put up numbers. Imagine what he would do with a running game. He also has experience in a West Coast offense.
To get him we would definitely have to give something decent up. I would start with our #1 this year, add the Broncos choice of T-Jack or Rosenfels, Chester Taylor, and then possibly a 2 or 3 next year. Cutler is just entering his prime. Guys like him NEVER get traded so the Vikings should take advantage of the opportunity. We could always pick up a guy like Warrick Dunn or a rookie RB to replace Chester. And the Broncos have been looking for running backs. Obviously the Vikings would prefer not to include CT, but he is in the last year of his contract and he is replaceable. To get someone as good as Cutler, the package will have to be good especially with other teams in the bidding.
Would the Broncos prefer the Browns’ offer of Quinn(who is a better QB than what the Vikings can offer), Shaun Rogers (broncos need a NT for the 3-4) and whatever draft picks they decide to include? That is probably better for the Broncos then the Vikings offer.
Nice job on this Judd and on the FOX webshow yesterday… great info! Here’s a link if people want to check it out:
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/generic/video/sod/Sports_On_Demand_Archive
The only negative re trading for Cutler (would require #! this year ++) is that he might save Childish’s job! Likelihood of working a trade, however, seems low since they would need a QB and I don’t see any of ours generating much interest.
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