Who stays and who goes for the Chicago Bears? That is the biggest question for the team right now as both Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall are being shopped before free agency is set to begin on Tuesday. After a few disappointing seasons, John Fox and Adam Gase step in to try and right the team under a new front office management group. Players with bad stats were aware that changes could be made and now Marshall and Cutler await their fate for 2015.
The clock is ticking on a decision regarding Cutler. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports if the quarterback is still on the roster come next Tuesday when the official new league year begins, his 2016 salary becomes fully guaranteed. That means the Bears have just a few days to find a trade partner to take on Cutler's $15.5 million salary in 2015 that is also fully guaranteed to him. The Bears might have helped their salary cap by giving Cutler this seven-year contract, but they did themselves no favors should the quarterback struggle, which he is and now the team cannot find someone to make a deal with.
The chances Cutler gets traded are slim. According to the Chicago Sun Times, there is not a lot of optimism regarding a deal getting done. Yes, the free agent market for quarterbacks is weak, but not weak enough to take on Cutler's monster contract and dipping stats. The best move the Bears can make at this point is trying to send Marshall on his way.
The Chicago Tribune reports Marshall is available for the taking in a trade. The move might be a surprise to some considering the receiver signed a three-year contract last offseason that made it look like he would finish his career in Chicago. However, the Bears are taking calls about the receiver which indicates a market is developing. Moving forward, the team will have Alshon Jeffery who is due a contract in the coming years and they will likely add one more player via free agency.
According to NFL.com, Brian Hartline has already paid a visit to the franchise. Hakeem Nicks and Michael Crabtree could be next along with Harry Douglas, Andre Holmes and Torrey Smith. If both Marshall and Cutler do not get traded, is the next move shopping Matt Forte? The Bears seem desperate to move at least one high-priced contract off their pay roll, it just remains to be seen who goes.