4/4/09
2009 NFL Draft E-mails – Jay Cutler Trade Feedback
I firmly believe you are hugely overrating Jay Cutler. He is without a doubt a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL, I’m not debating that, but he is far from being the untradable god that shall doom Denver to a series of Fs in your NFL draft grades. Yes, he has a cannon for an arm, but he also makes multiple ill-advised throws that result in stupid interceptions and/or killed drives that could’ve resulted in more points.
He’s never had a truly exceptional season either; yes his 2008 statistics were impressive, but they were not on the same level as a vintage Brady or Manning (Peyton, not his turnover prone brother). Is Cutler a talented QB? Undoubtedly, but he is NOT untouchable, and Denver made the right decision by trading away a player who didn’t want to be there, in addition to coming away with a king’s ransom for him.
Basically, Cutler is definitely quite good, but he’s not untradable. There’s no reason to claim the Broncos have already “lost” this trade when they could very well have excellent drafts and vastly improve the team from their previous incarnations.
My Response:
That’s for the e-mail, but I completely disagree. You don’t trade elite young quarterbacks in the NFL. You just don’t do it. Excluding Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees, Cutler is right there in the next 3-4 quarterbacks, and he’s only 25. Maybe some of those ill-advised throws he made were because his defense was an abomination, forcing him to engage in shootouts every week. In 2001, Peyton Manning threw 23 interceptions. Was it because he made dumb decisions? No, it was because his defense was horrible that year and he had to force throws.
You’re right in that Denver COULD have decent drafts. But I don’t get how you could trust Josh McDaniels at this point. He’s clearly in way over his head.
You are really off base on this Cutler deal. To say Josh McDaniels cannot evaluate talent is laughable and if they acquire seven Hall-of Famers, you rank this an F? You sound like a scorned Cutler apologist and it’s too bad.
How do you know the Broncos even want to pay a ransom for a 1st round QB? I’m willing to bet you McDaniels does not draft a QB in round one.
I wish I had more time to write about this but I don’t. McDaniels comes from New England where they draft QBs as projects and groom them. McDaniels only knows the Belichick way. Unless Sanchez fits the mold of everything he wants, he’s not taking him.
The Broncos will win 6 games this year.
My Response:
I wrote the following to another e-mailer – you don’t trade elite young quarterbacks in the NFL. You just don’t do it. Excluding Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, Cutler is right there in the next 3-4 quarterbacks, and he’s only 25.
That’s why I sound like a Cutler apologist. I was obviously exaggerating about the 7 HOF F grade, but I firmly believe in the principle.
I definitely would not say the Patriots just drafted QBs and developed them, and then apply it to Denver. The Patriots didn’t need to draft quarterbacks in the first round under Bill Belichick’s regime because they inherited Drew Bledsoe and then were lucky enough to come across a one-in-a-million quarterback prospect in Tom Brady. If it wasn’t for Brady, the Patriots would have drafted a quarterback in the first round in the early years of this decade. Denver will make a play for Mark Sanchez or Josh Freeman (most likely the former).
Walter the Cutler trade was interesting in that I’m pretty sure Freeman will end up in Denver. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Denver try to move up a couple spots to get by the Jets. I read what you said about Tannebaum, but, the thing is how much worse could Freeman be than Clemens He hasn’t looked good in his limited opportunites and if he liked him then why last year do you deal for an over the hill Farve? I do believe though whatever scenario Freeman will end up in Denver. Just curious on your thoughts.
My Response:
It’s not about Josh Freeman being a bit better/worse than Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff. It’s about Tannebaum’s job security. If he drafts a young QB, he won’t play right away. So, instead of using a pick to help the Jets win, Tannebaum will be drafting for the future. Problem is, if they don’t win right away, Tannebaum will be fired – making the future a moot point.
I believe Denver will go after Mark Sanchez; not Josh Freeman.
“Congratulations on winning the NFC North”
Wah.
My Response:
That’s what I said on the phone. Gut reaction.
But look at it this way… the Vikings barely beat out the Bears with Orton missing a few games. Now the Bears have a much better QB.
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2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Archive:
2011 NFL Draft Mailbag Home
Post-Round 1 E-mail - April 29
Hate Mail Volume 7 - April 10
Crackhead Mail Volume 2 - April 10
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 5 - April 10
Hate Mail Volume 6 - April 3
Crackhead Mail - April 3
Trade and Prospect Speculation - April 3
Hate Mail Volume 5 - March 28
Cam Newton Mailbag - March 28
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 4 - March 28
Hate Mail Volume 4 - March 13
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 3 - March 13
Random Questions and Comments - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 3 - March 7
Combine Questions and Comments - March 7
Combine Hate Mail - March 7
Hate Mail Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random AFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Random NFC Questions and Comments Volume 2 - Feb. 22
Quarterbacks - Feb. 15
Hate Mail - Feb. 15
Random AFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15
Random NFC Questions and Comments - Feb. 15
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