March 06--Part of a position-by-position preview of where the Bears stand entering free agency on Tuesday.
QUARTERBACKS
Signed for 2015: Jay Cutler, David Fales.
Expiring contract: Jimmy Clausen.
Top-shelf free agents: Mark Sanchez, Michael Vick, Ryan Mallett.
On the bargain rack: Matt Moore, Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, Scott Tolzien, Luke McCown, Tyler Thigpen.
Position synopsis: Here's the stickiest situation for the Bears during this offseason. It's possible that Pace and new coach John Fox have decided that Cutler isn't the quarterback they want to build their championship dreams around. Yet the new regime may have to ride with Cutler in 2015 anyway. The free-agent market doesn't present many inspiring options to craft an immediate exit strategy. And this year's draft class is also notably weak at the position. Add in Cutler's contract logistics -- $10 million in guaranteed money for 2016 will kick in on March 12 if he's still on the roster -- and it's feasible that the business dynamics of the equation will convince Pace and Fox to roll the dice on Cutler for 2015.
