Quarterback is a tough position in the NFL. Sure, you get the credit when your team wins, but you also get the lion's share of the blame when your team loses.
As a result, the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals all have to evaluate their quarterback situations during the offseason. The Bears are marred in internal turmoil, San Fran has failed to make the playoffs for the first time in the Jim Harbaugh era and the Bengals still can't expect to win a game in primetime.
Each team has a unique issue at quarterback. Bears starter Jay Cutler, despite a decent statistical season, is a turnover machine who has never taken advantage of the offensive weapons around him. 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick appears to have regressed significantly this season, plagued by inaccuracy both inside and outside the pocket. Bengals passer Andy Dalton hasn't changed anyone's perceptions regarding his failures in the spotlight.
Could all three be traded in the offseason?
"As is often the case, you first have to wonder who will be making those calls," wrote ESPN Insider Adam Schefter. "Who is going to be the general manager and head coach in Chicago - are the Bears keeping GM Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman? If there is a new coach in San Francisco, what will he want? There are a lot of dominoes that have to fall before we can figure out the definitive future of some of these quarterbacks. There are questions about all of them, but no real answers right now. All are solid quarterbacks. And whoever makes those decisions will have to ask himself this: If (Dalton/Cutler/Kaepernick) is not my quarterback, then who is our alternative? Finding quarterbacks better than Cutler, Dalton and Kaepernick isn't as easy as you think. Just ask St. Louis, Tennessee, Arizona, Houston, Tampa Bay, the New York Jets, and so on."
Of the trio, Cutler seems to be the most likely to be traded, as he was recently benched for backup Jimmy Clausen, who is 1-9 in his career as an NFL starter. Kaepernick still has a high ceiling, and rumors are that the 49ers will re-tailor their offense in the offseason around his special mobility skills. Dalton may not be traded, but it would be surprising if Cincinnati didn't bring in at least one more arm to compete with him, especially if they miss out on the playoffs.
