The 2009 Jay Cutler Trade: Chicago Got Its Quarterback, Denver Got the Asset Haul
Chicago paid Kyle Orton, two first-round picks and a third-rounder for Jay Cutler and a fifth. The Bears gained years of quarterback production; Denver gained far more draft capital.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick Kyle Orton, 2009 1st round pick (18th overall, Robert Ayers), 2009 3rd round pick (84th overall subsequently traded, Mike Wallace ) and 2010 1st round pick (11th overall subsequently traded, Anthony Davis )
Chicago Bears Received
- player Jay Cutler
- pick 2009 5th round pick (140th overall, Johnny Knox)
Trade Summary
Denver Broncos received Kyle Orton, 2009 1st round pick (18th overall, Robert Ayers), 2009 3rd round pick (84th overall subsequently traded, Mike Wallace) and 2010 1st round pick (11th overall subsequently traded, Anthony Davis). Chicago Bears received Jay Cutler and 2009 5th round pick (140th overall, Johnny Knox). The final review favors Denver Broncos because that return produced stronger practical football value.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Chicago acquired Jay Cutler and a 2009 fifth-round pick from Denver for quarterback Kyle Orton, first-round picks in 2009 and 2010, and a 2009 third-round pick. It was an enormous price for a quarterback who had already made a Pro Bowl but was still early in his career.
Why Chicago Can Defend the Gamble
The Bears finally received sustained quarterback production. Chicago's own retrospective notes that Cutler became one of the franchise's leading passers and set major team marks during his tenure. The fifth-round pick also became Johnny Knox, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie return specialist and produced useful receiving seasons before a serious back injury ended his career.
Why Denver's Asset Case Is Real
Denver received Orton plus three premium selections. Orton started 32 games over three seasons for the Broncos. The draft capital also gave Denver flexibility to move around the board, although players later selected by downstream teams -- such as Mike Wallace or Anthony Davis -- should not be counted as direct Broncos acquisitions merely because the picks passed through Denver's hands.
The Long-Term Legacy
This is less one-sided than a simple winner label suggests. Chicago paid a franchise-quarterback price and received several years of starting quarterback play, including an NFC Championship Game appearance. Denver surrendered the best individual player but received enough capital to reshape multiple drafts.
Final Verdict
The Denver Broncos Win verdict is defensible from an asset-value perspective, but Chicago's side also produced the most important single player and years of quarterback stability. A fair reading is that Denver won the haul while Chicago received the clearer direct on-field centerpiece.