Chicago Bears: Is Jay Cutler an Elite Quarterback?

About two-and-a-half years ago, the Bears acquired what was to be their first "Franchise Quarterback" since Sid Luckman was carving the NFL apart in the T-formation.  

After sending two first-round picks, a third-round pick and then-starting quarterback Kyle Orton to Denver in exchange for young star quarterback Jay Cutler, the Bears and their fans were elated at the prospect of finally having a top quarterback in their fold.

Now, after two lackluster season and a controversial exit from the NFC Championship Game, many question whether the Bears actually got what they bargained for.

Which raises this question: Is Jay Cutler an elite quarterback in the NFL?

The short answer is no.

Defining "elite" is kind of subjective in terms of sporting terminology but let me give you the relevant dictionary definition of the word: The best or most skilled members of a group.

Does Cutler fall into that category? Would you feel comfortable arguing that he deserves to be in the same conversation with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers? He just hasn't proved that, yet. And thus, he is not an elite quarterback by that definition.

That doesn't mean that Cutler has been a bad quarterback. In fact, he's been rather good, especially given the circumstances that have surrounded his career thus far. But the claim that Cutler has already joined the ranks of the elite is a bit far-fetched.

Of course, some of his issues revolve around his supporting cast and his coaching staff. Mike Shanahan didn't exactly do him many favors when he adapted his offense into a rollout-heavy construct in order to mask Cutler's weaknesses, as opposed to developing the young quarterback's decision-making skills. And playing for former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Turner's predictable offense is enough to lower any quarterback a peg.  

Last season, the Bears' offensive linemen were in a race to see who could set the record for most sacks allowed first, and Mike Martz spent the first half of the season pretending the rushing game had went the way of the drop-kick field goal.

These environments didn't exactly create a cultivating situation for Cutler.

Yet he has elite skills. His arm strength in comparable to the best in the league. His mobility ranks him in the same conversation with all of the best mobile quarterbacks in the league, excepting Mike Vick, who is in a league of his own in terms of mobility.

That in mind, Cutler has the tools to be elite in the near future. 

The question is whether he can get their mentally. Cutler has had problems in the red zone for most of his career and is often criticized because of his decision-making, his propensity for holding on to the ball too long and his mechanics, which are viewed as lazy.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has been high on Cutler from the beginning, praising him for his ability to learn his playbook quickly and for his athletic ability from the very start of their relationship. So, at least according to the same guy who took a grocery bagger and built the Greatest Show on Turf around him, Cutler has the mental ability to adjust and grow.

We saw him take a step forward under Martz last season, making better decisions even as he was being assailed by every defensive lineman in the league and even a couple of water boys.

Cutler came into camp this year having obviously worked hard in the offseason. He is noticeably thinner and obvious improvements to his mechanics, specifically in the way he plants his back foot and in flexing his forward knee when he releases. In the past, Cutler has admitted that he has been lazy with his mechanics because his power has allowed him to be. But he appears to be putting the effort into correcting his throwing motion and taking that next step.

Cutler's habit of holding onto the football too long is likely a product of confidence and competitiveness, but that makes it no less damaging. And it is one area in which he hasn't appeared to make significant progress. He just doesn't seem to want to throw away the ball, occasionally even taking a sack by running out of bounds rather than throwing the ball into the cheap seats.  

Statistically, Cutler has been a mixed bag to this point. But he is statistically in line with players like Jim Kelly, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning over their first five years. In fact, Football Outsiders lists Jim Kelly's 1986 to 1988 performances as the closest resemblance to Cutler's last three years. 

He's a risk-taker, much as Favre and Kelly were, and that will result in some head-scratching plays. But being compared to a hall of fame quarterback by a respected statistical analysis website is a pretty high compliment.

It also says a lot about how little we remember of the early years of some of the league's best quarterbacks. The rollercoaster starts to the hall of fame careers of such greats as Dan Fouts, Favre, Kelly, Manning and John Elway are often forgotten in favor of their more stable primes. 

How many people remember that Favre completed his first pass to himself, or that Dan Fouts threw 57 interceptions to just 34 touchdowns in his first five years before Don Coryell took over the Chargers?

Unfortunately for Cutler, he will forever be tied to the massive package the Bears gave away to acquire him. He may or may not overcome his faults and take the next step toward becoming an elite quarterback.  

But one thing is certain: While Cutler has been a good quarterback thus far, he has not reached the "elite" level yet.

And now it's your turn, ladies and gentlemen. Step up to the soapbox below—known as the comment thread—and let us know what you think on Jay Cutler and his current position among the league's quarterbacks, as well as where you think he will head int he future. Sound off!