Jay Cutler: The One Man Detroit Stimulus Package

So we've heard the rumours about Jay Cutler demanding a trade out of Denver (I know you have because I wrote about it this morning).

The real problem is where would he go and what could Denver get in return?

Cutler is, to say the least, a stud. At only 25 years old (a virtual baby as far as NFL standards are concerned), he is coming off the best season of his short three year career, throwing for 25 TD's just 11 INT's, over 4,500 yards and being named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster.

Problem is, Cutler got a wee bit pissy a few weeks back when he heard his name being thrown about in relation to some trade rumours. Word on the street was that he might be sent packing to Tampa Bay in a three-way deal that would see Matt Cassel, the new wunderkid, arrive in Denver from New England (this was before Cassel was dealt to Kansas City).

Cutler and his new coach, former Patriot offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels (hence the trade proposal), tried to smooth things over on the phone but apparently only made it worse. Things then came to a head this weekend when it was reported that Cutler met face to face with his new coach and apparently the meeting went so well that he decided to put his Denver area house up for sale and ask for - demand, depending on what publication you read - a trade (don't worry, he's not on the streets quite yet, he still owns a penthouse apartment downtown.)

So the Broncos are faced with a dilemma. Keep Cutler and hope the kid can suck up his feelings of hurt and resentment to return to his pro-bowl form; or trade him now.

While a few teams immediately come to mind as possible trade partners with Denver (Minnesota, Chicago and Tampa Bay are the most notable), none of them make as much sense as would a trade to the Detroit Lions.

The Lions are bad...like stinky cheese that's been sitting on the counter for too long in the middle of summer bad. In 2008 they gained the dubious distinction of becoming the only team ever...EVER...to finish the year 0-16.

Their prize for this run of futility; The number one overall pick in this year's draft.

The Lions are strongly considering drafting Matthew Stafford, a QB out of the University of Georgia at the one spot. Some, however, are questioning whether Stafford deserves the top pick, despite him being the consensus number one QB on the board, or if the Lions are better off using it to draft someone to help shore up a defense that was likened to a siv...if instead of having a ton of little holes, the siv just had one big ginormous hole that let everything through it...kinda like that.

Now, in addition to the first overall pick and the 33rd pick in the draft (first choice of the second round) the Lions also own the 20th overall selection which they gained early last season as part of a trade that sent receiver Roy Williams to Dallas.

Here's the deal that makes sense to me: The Lions acquire QB Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos in exchange for the 20th and 33rd picks in the 2009 draft.

Here's why it makes sense.

The Broncos have no QB depth to speak of behind Cutler, why would they? When you have a 25 year old franchise guy, you don't waste high picks or big free-agent money to back him up.
That being said, Denver would understandably want from any trade either a proven NFL QB or a pick high enough to draft one.

Getting the 20th overall selection would allow the Broncos to pick one of the top two or three QB's in draft. Because the Broncos also own their own first round pick this year at number 12, they could either take the best QB available there, or use the 20th pick as leverage to move up in the draft if they fear Stafford and USC QB Matt Sanchez will both be gone by then.

Shrewd usage of those three picks in the first 33 could undoubtedly garner a top-line quarterback of the future if done correctly. Plus they would use the other two picks acquired to shore up any other needs the team sees fit.

What Detroit gets in this deal is pretty obvious: A proven, NFL quarterback who they know can handle the rigours of the day in, day out grind that is the NFL. On top of that, they get to keep the first overall pick to use on a defensive player, probably LB Aaron Currey out of Wake Forest, DT B.J Raji from Boston College or DE Brian Orakpo from Texas, all of whom ESPN.com rates above Matthew Stafford on their list of top draft eligible players.

Quite frankly, the Lions offense - minus the QB position - really isn't so bad. Calvin Johnson is one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL, heck take away the word 'young' from that statement and it's probably still true. Kevin Smith emerged as a solid rookie running back last year who can handle the load with a reliable passing game to back him up. Sure they still need a good second WR option and little more help on the o-line, but who couldn't?

What Cutler would bring to Detroit is not only offensive stability, but a sense of excitement that a city, who for anyone who hasn't lived under a rock the last eight months or so knows, is desperately in need of some good news, on and off the football field.

This trade, if consummated, would give them exactly that.