Marcus Mariota is a huge wild card as we inch closer to the NFL draft. The former Oregon star has been linked to just about every team in the top half of the draft and a few more beyond that. Have the Chicago Bears emerged as a suitor?
According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, the Bears have considered the possibility of trading up from their No. 7 spot in the first round to draft Mariota.
“Marcus Mariota has gained more and more traction in Chicago, of all places,” Cole said. “Despite the fact that John Fox was brought in as head coach with the presumed idea that he was going to fix Jay Cutler, there are some people in the Bears organization who believe that Mariota might be the answer and that ultimately trading Cutler may actually work out.”
But who would take Cutler and his massive contract? Several months ago, a report indicated that Cutler and the Tennessee Titans have mutual interest in a trade. Cutler played his college ball at Vanderbilt, which is in Tennessee. Cole speculates that the Titans might be willing to take Cutler and swap picks with Chicago.
“Are the Bears willing to do whatever it takes to part with Cutler, move up for Mariota and make what would be a big splashy move?” he asked. “This is generally not what the Bears have done historically.”
Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt has a history with big, strong-armed quarterbacks. Say what you will about Cutler’s decision making and inability to protect the ball, but he certainly has a strong arm and can throw it downfield.
Whisenhunt recently made some comments that got people thinking the Titans are going to take Mariota at No. 2, but that could easily have been a smoke screen. If any Cutler trade makes sense, this would be the one.
