NFL Rumors: Rumblings Surrounding Jay Cutler, Mike Glennon and More

The sheer craziness of the first few days of the NFL’s free-agency period is behind us, but there are still a number of rumors circulating around the league as the draft approaches. 

Not all of those rumblings are draft-related, though, and one even revolves around the Chicago Bears’ franchise quarterback, Jay Cutler. Fellow signal-caller Mike Glennon also saw his name appear on the rumor mill, even with most of the league turning its attention toward the impending draft.

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the latest rumors from around the NFL.

Jay Cutler

Bears fans would be forgiven if they had reservations about Cutler as the long-term answer at quarterback. After all, he is fresh off a 2014 season in which he threw 18 interceptions and failed to lead the team to the playoffs, and a 2013 season that was marred by injury.

Even when the Bears reached the 2011 NFC Championship Game with Cutler under center, he missed most of the eventual loss against the Green Bay Packers with an injury. While the injury certainly wasn't his fault, it was a lost opportunity to cement himself as a winner in the eyes of the fans, with only one victory standing between the team and a Super Bowl appearance.

That is what makes this update from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport so interesting:

Cutler must have said something right, because new coach John Fox, new general manager Ryan Pace and the rest of the front office apparently left the meeting as Cutler believers. There will certainly be pressure for the 31-year-old quarterback to prove himself in Chicago this season, even after the team traded wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The Bears still have plenty of offensive weapons on the roster, including receivers Alshon Jeffery and Eddie Royal and the underrated, do-everything running back Matt Forte. Cutler has never had fewer than 12 interceptions in a season in which he played at least 11 games, and he peaked in his first season with Chicago with 26 picks.

His main goal this year could very well be to avoid mistakes and get the ball into the hands of the playmakers.

The high interception numbers must change if the Bears have a prayer at keeping up with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North in 2015.

Mike Glennon 

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

While the Bears are sticking with Cutler this season (and perhaps beyond), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not do the same with Glennon. After all, Tampa Bay will likely take a quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft, and the 25-year-old Glennon could clog the position’s depth chart.

Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com noted that “Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith confirmed Wednesday that the team has been fielding phone calls about trading quarterback Mike Glennon.” 

That report comes on the heels of this note from Adam Caplan of ESPN:

The fact that Glennon is still relatively young should help bolster his trade stock, and he isn’t that far removed from a 2013 campaign that saw him start 13 games and throw 19 touchdowns compared to only nine interceptions. There are plenty of NFL teams that could use a quarterback like that on the roster, even if it is for depth purposes as a backup. 

It just doesn’t look like Tampa Bay will be one of those squads.

Baltimore Ravens/P.J. Williams

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens struggled mightily to stop the pass last season (23rd in the NFL in opposing passing yards allowed per game) and are apparently looking toward the draft as a way to shore up the secondary.

It should come as no surprise then that Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams has caught their eye, as Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun noted:

"

The Ravens drafted two Florida State defensive players a year ago, selecting defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan in the second round and safety Terrence Brooks in the third round.

Now the Ravens are looking into another Seminoles defensive standout, as cornerback P.J. Williams is set to visit them before the draft, according to league sources.

"

There are a number of potential first-round picks at the cornerback position in this draft, including Williams, Michigan State’s Trae Waynes and Washington’s Marcus Peters. Only Williams has national championship experience on that list, though, as he helped the Seminoles win the 2014 BCS national title game.

He was also named the Defensive MVP of that contest with seven tackles and an interception.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Williams discussed his place among cornerback prospects for the upcoming draft, via Wilson: "I definitely think somewhere at the top. Hopefully, I'll go as high as I can. Because of my physicality and the cornerback position, and being athletic enough to run with wide receivers and with me having the ability to make a lot of tackles.” 

It is hard to argue with his reasoning, which is why the Ravens are looking his way for help in the secondary. The only question now may be whether Williams will still be available when it is the Ravens' turn to pick at No. 26.

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