What Uniform Will Jay Cutler Be Wearing Next Season?

Watching ESPN this morning, and reading the rumor mills over the last few days, it is obvious that next season, Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler will not be waving the Mile High Salute.

This leads to two questions: Where will Cutler be next season, and who will be under center if Jay is not in Denver anymore?

Let's tackle the first question, shall we?

It started with the rumor that Cutler had put his Denver home for sale.  That rumor was confirmed by Cutler, stating that he had wanted to sell it for a while.  Two days later, when his parents' Denver home was put up for sale, it confirmed that Cutler has no intention of playing for the Broncos again.

After a phone call Saturday to head coach Josh McDaniels ended with Cutler not sure what he wanted to do, Cutler's agent Bus Cook called McDaniels Sunday and said Cutler wants out.

So, if traded, where will Cutler end up? Let's take a look at where he might fit.

Detroit Lions

The Lions could very easily trade the first pick in the upcoming draft to the Broncos to get Cutler.  Detroit has been horrible the last few years, but especially last season when Detroit went winless.

Cutler would be the obvious starter over every QB the Lions have on their roster, but how much would the Lions improve with Cutler on the roster?

San Francisco 49ers

San Fran has a desperate need at QB.  After drafting Alex Smith with the first overall selection in the 2005 draft, Smith gave up his starting job, which shows how risky it can be taking a QB with the No. 1 selection.

The 49ers could definitely us the upgrade at the position.

With a trade of their 10th pick this season, they would close the gap with the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals.

New York Jets

This is probably the destination that Cutler would prefer.  Over the last two years, the Jets have spent boat loads of money to improve their roster.  Cutler could be the final piece the Jets need in order to get closer to overtaking the Dolphins and Patriots for the AFC East crown.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa overhauled their roster this offseason, and have begun the rebuilding process.  Last season's starter Jeff Garcia is gone and wont be back.

So, does Tampa trade for a starter, or do they draft someone they can groom for down the road?

Had Jon Gruden still been the coach, it would have been a lot more interesting.

In my opinion, The Jets are going to offer their first round pick, and possibly a third rounder to acquire Cutler from the Broncos. 

As for who will be under center for the Broncos, there are many options for Denver, none of them are too promising though. 

There is Jeff Garcia. Not a young guy, and he didn't play that well in Tampa last year.

Kyle Boller of the Ravens had a lot of potential coming out of Cal.  He has amazing arm strength, but was never good enough to be successful in Baltimore. 

Is it the system, or the QB?  I don't think Denver is going to take the risk.

Former Steelers' back up Byron Leftwich has the most potential to take over as the starter.  He played very well in relief of Ben Roethlisberger last season, but was not good enough to keep the Jaguars from making David Gerrard the starter during his tenure in Jacksonville.

Any of the above mentioned players are a big risk for the Broncos.  Had any of them had "superstar" potential they would have been snagged up long before now.

If Denver trades, they have first round options to snag a QB.

Matthew Stafford, from Georgia is an option, but many people have Stafford being the top pick in this years draft to the Lions.

If the Lions trade that pick for Cutler, Denver could select him.

USC's Mark Sanchez, meanwhile, has moved up many draft boards due to an amazing scouting combine, and the Lions could pass Stafford, who didn't even throw at the combine.

Josh Freeman from Kansas State is big and strong (6'6, 238 lbs.), and Freeman, like Sanchez, is working his way up many draft boards.  He played some games last season like the first pick in the draft, and others like a fourth rounder.

Freeman does have a great arm, and good speed.  He will probably be available if the Broncos trade with the Jets.

If the Jets trade their first round pick for Cutler, I think they are going to select Josh Freeman to be the starter. 

Josh McDaniels was the QB coach, and could help Freeman to be the best QB taken in this years draft.