NFL Trades: Jay Cutler Could Be Shipped By The Chicago Bears After The Season -- Report

Mired in another disappointing season, the Chicago Bears could trade quarterback Jay Cutler after the 2014 season, according to an ESPN report. NFL writer Adam Schefter speculated on the possibility that the Bears will cut ties with Cutler after the current season as the move will save the franchise around a dozen million dollars if another team agrees to take Cutler and his contract.

“The Bears could trade Cutler after this season and actually save $12.5 million against the salary cap, a review of his contract shows,” Schefter wrote for the sports website on Sunday. “Cutler's $15.5 million salary for next season is guaranteed, based on a review of the deal, but there might be another team willing to take it on, relieving the Bears if the team made the decision to try to trade him.”

Schefter went on to state that a “handful of teams around the league” are interested in acquiring Cutler’s services according to his sources. One of the teams supposed to be interested are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to various reports.

The Chicago Bears started the year at 2-1 including a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. Chicago struggled thereafter winning just two of their last seven games for an overall record of four wins against six losses. The Bears, which are three games back off division leaders Green Bay Packers (7-3) and Detroit Lions (7-3), are not yet out of the postseason race but they need to start winning consistently for a shot at the playoffs.

The Bears won in their last game beating the Minnesota Vikings, 21-13 in Week 11. They will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys in their next three games.

Cutler was drafted 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos where he played for his first 3 years in the league. He’s been with the Bears for the past 6 years. In 10 games with Chicago in 2014, he has 2,695 passing yards on 60.4 percent completion rate (250-of-373 completed passes) with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.