Should the Bears find a new quarterback?

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

By: Tyler Heyl and Jacob Rayyan

The Chicago Bears are one of the NFL’s oldest and most historic franchises. However, they have been struggling recently. The Bears have not made the playoffs since 2010 and not had a winning season since 2012. This season does not look to have much hope either after their starting quarterback, Jay Cutler sprained his right thumb and will be out about 3 weeks. The Bears struggles correlate to when Cutler came to Chicago in 2009. He was never able to blossom into a top quarterback for the Bears. Since the franchise is currently struggling, is it time to try to get a new franchise quarterback?

The Chicago Bears need to make a franchise-altering move, and it needs to happen fast. The franchise has too much tradition and the fans expect too much for there to be a playoff drought as long as the current one. Jay Cutler has proven time and time again that while he is a physically capable quarterback with above average arm strength, he is not a winner. It is time for the Bears to rid themselves of Cutler, either by waiving him from the team or potentially trading for him. Trading for him would be tough because Cutler is currently in year three of a seven-year contract worth $126 million. There are only a few teams in the NFL who would trade for a quarterback with that huge of a contract with the resume of Cutler.

In Cutler’s eight seasons, he has led the NFL in interceptions twice and has a career average of 233.7 yards per game. Also, in the last four seasons, Cutler has not had a winning record. However, in 2015 Cutler led the most fourth quarter comebacks in the NFL with four. Therefore, the Bears struggles cannot be blamed solely on Cutler, but the team as a hole. In his time for the Bears Cutler’s Total QBR has averaged 50, which is average. However, average is not what the Bears needed

The Chicago Bears, regardless of what happens this season with Cutler, should be looking for a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. One name that has been popping up has been Brad Kaaya, quarterback out of Miami. The QB has shown the skill set to succeed and, while he was reportedly a mid-round pick, the Bears would more than likely take him at any point in the draft. At the rate the season is going for the Bears, that could likely mean a top five pick for Kaaya.

Jay Cutler’s time in Chicago has been mediocre at best and after trading two first round picks and a third round pick for him, he has not lived up to expectations. Even though Cutler has been about average, the Bears need more than an average franchise quarterback. There should be a lot of good options in the 2017 draft for the Bears to choose from and get a new start.