I am probably one of the biggest Cutler fans around and would absolutely be willing to sell the farm to get him... However, assuming that Denver would be willing to part with him for something less that an equally talented QB (a big assumption) - I think the niners might have a package that most other franchises would have a tough time putting together... Here it is:
Draft Picks: 1st rounder (2009), 2nd rounder (2010), 4 rounder (2010)
Players: I know that most of us here (except for the unabashed Smith-a-holics) dont think that Alex is worth the charmon ultra he wipes his butt with (yea I just quoted Varstiy Blues), but that doesnt mean that he lacks the necessary
PHYSICAL (not mental or instinctual) ability to play the position... And really, thats all that Cassel had coming into the league.
As a matter of fact, Smith and Cassel are actually very similar in terms of the tools they each possessed coming into the league - average to above-average arm strength, excellent athleticism, and zero playing experience in a pro-style offense. Additionally, it is quite clear that Smith is the most comfortable out of the shotgun - which McDaniels employs about 70% of the time. Couple that with the fact that Alex is still only 24 years old, meaning that he could afford to sit and learn for a couple seasons (just like cassel did) and still be in the prime of his career (physically speaking).
So if McDaniels is as conceited as he appears to be, Im sure that he would be confident in the fact that if anyone could turn our fallen star into a starting caliber QB - its him!!! And we might have something.
[ Edited by abowers1984 on Mar 16, 2009 at 11:51 PM ]