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Jay Cutler to the Cardinals? NFL writer explains why it could happen

Posted at 12:07 PM, Feb 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-20 18:08:59-05

Carson Palmer's return to the Cardinals for the 2017 season makes it less likely the Cards will look to trade for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, even though Arizona is reportedly on Romo's preferred destination list.

Nonetheless, the Cardinals still need an heir apparent to the 37-year-old Palmer, and many fans would like to see the team find that man in the 2017 NFL Draft.

But Sports Illustrated's Peter King said the Cardinals may go in another direction entirely: They may opt to sign veteran Bears QB Jay Cutler, rather than drafting a quarterback.

"Name the counter-culture coach who likes to take shots on guys hated by lots of down-the-middle coaches and GMs, who is the biggest proponent of the deep ball of any coach in football, and who may need said deep ball thrower because his quarterback turns 38 this year," King wrote Monday, referring to Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.

"I think I just made a Bruce Arians-Jay Cutler marriage," King added.

Cutler, 33, was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft but has spent his last eight seasons in Chicago. He has thrown 208 touchdowns and 146 interceptions in his 11-year career, with a career passer rating of 85.7. For comparison's sake, Palmer's career passer rating is 88.0.

Cutler missed most of the 2016 season with a shoulder injury. He has a career 68-71 record as a starting NFL quarterback and was a 2008 Pro Bowl selection.

King said the Cardinals could opt to sign Cutler to a two-year contract that's heavy on performance incentives if and when the Bears decide to cut him before the season begins.

Speculation has run rampant that the Bears will indeed opt to release Cutler, who still has four years remaining on a seven-year, $126.7 million contract he signed in 2014. Based on the structure of Cutler's contract, the Bears would only take a $2 million salary-cap hit if they were to release him.

If that happens, "I'm not going to be shocked if he ends up in Arizona," King wrote.

CBS Sports writer Will Brinson said King may be on to something.

"Having Palmer and Cutler on the roster at the same time would be pretty unorthodox, and it might require some smart salary-cap room (plus the release of Drew Stanton, who has a $4 million cap hit and $2 million in dead cap if cut), but it would put the Cardinals in a position where they could win even if Palmer was injured," Brinson wrote.

"(Cardinals general manager Steve) Keim has talked about Arizona being 'aggressive' during free agency. This would absolutely meet that mark. It might ultimately not work because of asset allocation. It might not work because the Bears hold onto Cutler. It might not work because Cutler wants to play right now. But it's at least a different approach to a problem that all too often vexes even the best NFL organizations."