The Chicago Bears have been mentioned as a target for Marcus Mariota with less a month left to the NFL draft and the team may consider a Jay Cutler trade to move up to select the quarterback and this comes as the Tennessee Titans have the second overall pick and the Bears have met with the former Oregon star in a pre-draft visit.
Mariota is getting the most attention heading into the draft, as the Buccaneers are expected to take Jameis Winston number one overall. According to Pro Football Talk, the Bears have met with Mariota ahead of the draft and they "are doing their homework" on the quarterback. Adam Schefter at ESPN said that the Bears are interested in Mariota and they could look at trading up for him in the draft.
Cutler could be a trade option in moving up for Cutler, as the Titans are in need of a quarterback.. David Climer of the Tennesseean wrote last week that the Titans could shop the pick to get a quarterback, with Philip Rivers and Cutler as potential options. The Titans also reportedly are considering keeping the pick and if they do, they likely will take Leonard Williams. With Winston likely going number one, teams are looking hard at Mariota and the Titans as a trade option.
The Bears come into the season after winning just five games last year and they ended up making major changes to the franchise. The team fired head coach Marc Trestman and brought in Ryan Pace as general manager Ryan Pace for Phil Emery and now John Fox is in to take things over. The team flirted with trading Cutler after he was benched last season, but Fox came out and said Cutler would be sticking around. That could change as the draft gets closer, but with Cutler's large salary and contract, he could be tough to trade.
The Jets, Browns, Chargers and Redskins have all been mentioned as potential landing spots for Mariota along with the Titans. While Winston to the Buccaneers appears to be a sure thing, Tampa Bay also could be interested in Mariota if they get worried about Winston's off the field issues. The Browns are well positioned to move up with two first round picks, while the Jets could look at moving up from the number six spot.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Browns are "serious" about moving up for Mariota, while the Jets remain interested in a quarterback and have met with Mariota. The Jets also reportedly will meet with Bryce Petty, Brett Hundley and Jameis Winston ahead of the draft. Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan have been bold this offseason and they could continue that if they move up and draft Mariota to come in and compete with Geno Smith.
The Bears are reportedly interested in Mariota, as CBS Sports reports that the team could consider trading Cutler to get the second overall pick.