The Chicago Bears have a top 10 draft pick this offseason and the team could consider taking Marcus Mariota after they flirted with a Jay Cutler trade and other options include Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker, Todd Gurley, Vic Beasley and Randy Gregory and this comes as John Fox takes over for the 2015 season.
The Bears are likely to add another receiver this offseason, as they traded away Brandon Marshall and signed Eddie Royal in free agency. Michael C. Wright at ESPN Chicago writes that Amari Cooper and Kevin white are the top draft options for the Bears, while DeVante Parker also could be a potential pick for the team. The Bears have Alshon Jeffery coming back as the number one receiver, but they need more with Royal and Marquess Wilson behind him.
The team traded Marshall to the Jets and now they could be poised to add a wide receiver in the draft. The team also may consider names like Dante Fowler, Randy Gregory or Vic Beasley depending on how the first six picks play out. The Bears have been connected to Marcus Mariota and while the interest has not been intense, the team could consider taking the QB if he makes it to seven. No one expects that to happen and right now John Fox said he expects Cutler and the other quarterbacks to battle for the starting job this spring and summer.
Cooper may be off the board by the time the Bears pick, but if he isn't he likely will be the selection. Cooper comes in after making 124 catches for 1727 yards and 16 touchdowns for Alabama last season and he could be gone by the top four. White is also a potential target and he comes in after making 109 receptions for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns with West Virginia. Todd McShay has the Bears taking White in his latest mock draft, while DeVante Parker is another potential target if those two players are off the board.
Cutler had a solid season statistically, but overall he struggled and was the league leader in interceptions. Marc Trestman benched Cutler in Week 16 of the season for Jimmy Clausen and that opened the door for speculation about his future. Matt Forte comes into the final year of his deal and he is 29 years old and could be a target for teams if he is not extended. Last season Forte had a strong season overall, rushing for 1038 yards while adding 102 catches for 808 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Ian Rapoport on Twitter confirmed that $10 million of Cutler's salary for the 2016 season is now guaranteed after a deadline passed and that is one reason why the Bears did not end up making a move with Cutler. Cutler's salary for this year is already guaranteed at $15 million and last year Cutler was the highest paid player in football and he did not quite live up that billing. The team went just 5-11 and the offense never could play with consistency. Cutler comes into the season after setting career highs in completion percentage and touchdown passes, but he had 18 picks and six lost fumbles in 2014.