Good thing I banged out that Jay Cutler potential suitors post during my lunch break, because the dude already has a new home.

According to several media sources — most notably ESPN, who shot me the mobile alert — the Bears and Broncos have reached an agreement to exchange starting quarterback. First, what the Bears get: Cutler and Denver’s 5th-round pick. Now the Broncos’ loot: Kyle Orton, two 1st-round draft picks and a 3rd-round pick..

Heavy price for any player, but this looks worth it on the surface. Cutler has proven during his brief career in Denver that he can be as explosive and productive as any quarterback in the NFL. And now he gets to do it with a much better defense, which should improve on his career record numbers that everyone keeps throwing out there as an argument against him.

So what does he have to work with in Chicago?

First, it starts on offense with Matt Forte. The rookie running back accounted for a majority of Chicago’s offense last season and should command the bulk of the load once again in 2009. He gets it done on the ground and as a pass catcher, but it remains to be seen how well Cutler adjusts to having such a talented pass-catching running back.

Cutler does not have a whole lot to work with at wide receiver, however. Devin Hester is a work-in-progress, but he did make strides at the position near the end of 2008. While it did set him back in the return game, Hester appears poised to work even harder to become the Bears’ top pass catcher in 2009. He is an excellent deep threat, however, which plays nicely into Cutler’s hands.

The Bears do have a nice young tight end in Greg Olsen on which Cutler can rely for over-the-middle, tough catches and some redzone looks. I think the addition of Cutler solidifies Olsen as a top-12 fantasy tight end heading into next season, and his ceiling could be as high as top-5. Without a plethora of weapons in the passing game, the Bears would be well served to use more and more of Olsen in the passing game next year.

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