Jay Cutler Could Be Out of Denver by the Weekend

Take a good look, Broncos fans. All of those hundreds and thousands of dollars spent on Cutler jerseys are about to go to waste. ESPN.com's Rumor Central is reporting that this weekend could be Cutler's "last with the team," and that "four teams have contacted the Broncos" in regards to the Pro Bowl quarterback; that number is likely to increase at the annual owners' meetings next week.

As to the compensation Denver would receive, an unnamed NFL executive told the Denver Post that "They should be able to pick a quarterback off a roster and get two No. 1's—one this year and one next year."

For all of you who thought that two first-round picks was too much for Cutler, you were wrong. 

Way wrong.

In fact, if this report is correct, the Broncos will not only receive two first-round picks, they will also receive a quarterback in return for Cutler's services. 

Right now, the most likely destination appears to be Cleveland, as they have two quarterbacks that they could offer in Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. If the unnamed executive's prediction of compensation is true, the Broncos will likely be able to get Quinn/Anderson, B.J. Raji, and either Rey Maualuga or a number of other prospects.

As much as people think this will set the Broncos back, it truly will not. Denver's offensive line is arguably the best in the NFL, and whatever quarterback lines up under center will stay fairly clean.

Denver's offensive line only allowed Cutler to be sacked 11 times last year.

Also, Denver has one of the most talented offensive nuclei in the NFL.  Wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, Eddie Royal, Tony Scheffler, Daniel Graham, Jabar Gaffney, and Chad Jackson all are very capable targets for whatever quarterback will throw to them.

Rest easy Broncos fans: the compensation for our star quarterback will be relatively fair, and as much as I hate to see the Jay Cutler era end like this, it is for the best of the team. Cutler has become a distraction, and it is time to move on.