Cutler The Bear: What Does This Mean For The Packers?

Let me get the soapbox out...There we go.

Had this happened yesterday I would have thought it was a April Fools Day prank for sure. But living in Chicago I got the news today. It's official: Jay Cutler is now a Chicago Bear.

They traded two first round picks, a third round pick and Kyle Orton for Cutler. Now there are two things that worry me about Cutler.

1. Cutler is from the 2006 draft of which the three highest touted quarterbacks were Cutler, Matt Leinart, and Vince Young. I thought that Cutler was leaps and bounds above the other two.

2. He has already made the Pro Bowl and has posted up audacious numbers.

This is definitely changing the landscape of the NFC North and this also reiterates the reason why the Packers have to improve the Defense in the 2009/2010 season. Not to mention the fact that the hybrid defense of 3-4 and 4-3 that Capers is bringing is imperative. With Matt Forte in the backfield and Jay Cutler at the helm this is shaping up to be an interesting year for the Packers. The 3-4 is going to be great in coverage against an up and coming quarterback in Cutler while using the 4-3 (hopefully with an improved defensive tackle and linebacker corp) will help to put pressure on Forte. Not to mention that it will add complexity and give the Packers the added benefit of disguising the Defense with greater ease.

Now the greatest weakness with the Bears is the area where the Packers excel. Namely, the wide receiver corps.

The Packers have one of the best secondaries in the league with Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and to a lesser degree Will Blackmon, Nick Collins and Atari Bigby. The Bears however only have Devin Hester, Rasheed Davis, Marty Booker, and Brandon Lloyd. This show's a big hole in the depth chart as none of these wide recievers are not known for putting up any sort of numbers on a consistent basis, though that could have been based off of having no one who could throw to them. I guess this will really put what Muhsin Muhammad said to the test.

Is Chicago still "where wide receivers go to die" now that Cutler is there?

In closing, I will say this: Here's to the new football year which starts shortly (mine begin every draft) and to the Bears, who always offer us a challenge I give you a toast to a good trade. You may have overpaid by what I consider a drastic amount, but at least you went for something you wanted.

To the Packers I have to say...Orakpo please?