The NFL is not the NBA. Not only is there more turnover at the top of the standings in football each year, but teams also don't tend to tank to put themselves in a better draft position. You won't find an NFL team adopting the recent strategy of the Philadelphia 76ers. But at the same time, it has to be noted that there simply aren't enough franchise level quarterbacks to go around. For those that don't have one, a high draft pick in the first-round is your best bet.
This brings me to the Chicago Bears. It's no secret that the new regime in the Windy City isn't thrilled with incumbent starter Jay Cutler. Although they are trying to build a winner right away, if Cutler continues to struggle then a plan for a new quarterback will have to be put into place. Would that ever include tanking for a top draft pick? It's a question that was posed to ESPN Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson in his weekly mailbag.
@DickersonESPN If it doesn't look like Cutler will bounce back, how quickly will Bears go Tank-for-a-QB mode? #bearsmailbag
— Rich Anthony (@True_Rys) May 28, 2015
"It's a fair question, Rich, but I doubt the Bears tank it," Dickerson wrote. "They won't have to. If Jay Cutler struggles in the fall, the Bears may not win a ton of games. How confident are you in Jimmy Clausen? Or David Fales? Or some veteran currently out of a job coaching high school football the Bears will probably have to sign if Cutler falters? Cutler needs to deliver. He knows that. The Bears have surrounded him with a top-flight offensive coordinator (Adam Gase) and a pretty good collection of skill position players to work with. It's now or never. Even though the Bears are technically rebuilding, the coaching staff badly wants to win this year. John Fox isn't getting any younger."
Dickerson is right to point out that Chicago won't have to tank if Cutler struggles. The team finished 5-11 with him starting all but one game last year. Will that record change much with continued poor play from under center? Probably not. Should Cutler fail to meet expectations, Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg could be a possibility in the 2016 NFL Draft.
It's also possible that Cutler plays well this season. He did set career highs in completion percentage (66.0) and touchdowns (28) last year. But to be successful, he'll have to cut down on his league high 18 interceptions.
