The Chicago Bears are trying to prioritize their offseason needs. With two of their biggest stars hitting free agency in the coming months, the Bears must figure out who to bring back and who to try and grab in the NFL Draft. There has been a lot of talk that a quarterback is going to be a big priority for the Bears in the draft and while Jay Cutler has heard these rumors, he would like he team to draft players who can help him, not replace him.
With the No.11 pick in the draft, the Bears could target a defensive star or they could look to a quarterback and put someone behind Cutler to take over the franchise. According to David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have not ruled out the idea of drafting quarterback at the pick, but Cutler would rather them get playmakers to help him succeed now instead of thinking about the later.
"I would say I get it, I totally get it," Cutler said, via the Chicago Tribune. "At some point it's going to happen. They're going to get somebody else. I'm not going to play until I'm 43. I understand that. But on the flip side, I'd be like, we really could have gotten somebody who can help me right now. So that would be my two reactions. If they do it, I will help whoever they bring in as much as I could and kind of see how it unfolds."
Cutler is coming off one of his best seasons which should give Bears' fans hope for the short-term. However, what about the years to come? The Bears do not have a backup they can develop to take over once Cutler drops off. It would be hard to beat temptation is someone like Jared Goff, Paxton Lynch or Carson Wentz was available when Chicago drafts. They could also hold off and try to get someone like Connor Cook, Cody Kessler or Jake Coker in the third or fourth rounds to develop instead.
Cutler would prefer to have guys like Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte return instead while getting a few other players to help out. Both Jeffery and Forte are working on expiring contracts and the Bears might not be able to afford to bring both back. According to ESPN.com, Jeffery has no interest in a franchise tag while Forte has no interest in a hometown discount. Both players are very aware of their worth and will use that to their advantage going forward. Cutler wants and needs as many playmakers as he can get and both Jeffery and Forte represent that.
