So, Jerry Angelo Does Know the Offseason Began

Not only did Jerry Angelo finally awake from his Winter Slumber to make a deal for a Franchise Quarterback that I've never seem in my 29 years on Earth, but he picked up someone to protect his blindside while in the pocket. Not a bad haul for one day.

In case you were not aware, the Chicago Bears acquired QB Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos, along with a 5th round pick, in exchange for Kyle Orton, the 18th overall pick this year, 84th overall this year and a first round pick for 2010. And while it seems like this might be a lot to give up, you must first consider that since Angelo has taken over the Bears, the number of hits in the first round is considerably smaller than his misses. Since 2001, only 3 of the 1st round picks are still currently on the Bears, all drafted since 2006, DT Tommie Harris, TE Greg Olsen and T Chris Williams. Secondly, if the Bears now make the playoffs in 2009, that 1st round pick would be somewhere from 21st to 32nd and with Angelo's track record, a pick in that range would be most likely traded down into the 2nd round.

Of course, Cutler by himself doesn't yet make the Bears a playoff team. It does put them on the right path and if they can find a #1 wideout to throw the ball too, they just might have enough weapons to make that playoff push. And today, to go along with Cutler, the Bears signed LT Orlando Pace to a 3-year contract. Pace, 34, isn't the same caliber player he was a few years ago, but if he can stay healthy for the next two years, he most certainly would be upgrade over anyone the Bears would be able to put there to keep from Cutler getting decapitated.