We need a speed receiver to stretch the defense. I know he'd command at least 7 or 8 million a year, but after this year the cap is set to increase to almost 160 million. Why not give him a big signing bonus and backload his contract? We can afford it certainly.

Speaking of big signing bonus and backloading contracts, we can do that with all of the free agents we might sign to give us tons of flexibility. I can see us doing that with Andy Levitre and Jared Cook to give Emery a little more flexibilty in the draft.

What do you think?

EDIT:

A lot of people are saying we won't have enough money. We do have enough though, if they structure it right. Most of the time when teams negotiate long term deals, the first year base salary is low because of the signing bonuses. That's what the Bears would do.

A deal could look something like this…

6 years 47 million, 1st year base salary 800,000 with a signing bonus of 12 million
2013 salary = 800,000 2013 cap hit = 2.8 million
2014 salary = 4.2 million 2014 cap hit = 6.2 million
2015 salary = 5 million 2015 cap hit = 7 million
2016 salary = 6 million 2016 cap hit = 8 million
2017 salary = 9 million 2017 cap hit = 11 million
2018 salary = 10 million 2018 cap hit = 12 million

We could extend Cutler to something similar, maybe a 6 year, 72 million dollar deal. That could save another 5 or 6 million in cap space this year.