As with every contract, the real truth will be revealed in the details.
But the early look at Jay Cutler’s new seven-year deal with the Bears shows that it’s good for him, but doesn’t put him in the highest tier of quarterback deals.
According to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, Cutler’s deal averages $18 million per year for the first three years of the contract.
How it stacks up in the short run matters a lot more than the inflated seven-year numbers. But it certainly slots in below the $20 million-plus per year averages of quarterbacks on new deals such as Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan.
And while it’s still a handsome payday, there’s a certainty of having a quarterback you know about in a thin market, as the only free agents left are of the backup variety, and the unknowns of the draft.