Chicago Bears 2015 Roster Turnover: Quarterback

Jay Cutler - signed through 2020 - This upcoming season Jay Cutler has a cap hit of $16.5 million, so cutting him isn't a very sound financial option and trading him would prove difficult. I would be very surprised if Cutler isn't the starting QB for the Bears on opening week of the 2015 NFL season.

And that's OK, because he isn't a bad quarterback.

Cutler will never be on par with Brady, Rodgers or Manning. He'll never morph into Roethlisberger, Brees or Romo. Cutler will always be on the cusp of the top half of signal callers in the league. Plain and simple, he is what is is. So stop comparing him to the elite QBs, stop waiting for him to become elite, and just accept the fact that he's an average QB.

With that being said, if the game-plan isn't as pass happy as 2014, Cutler could look better. If new offensive coordinator Adam Gase doesn't have the Bears leading the league in screen passes like they did last season (5.2 per game), Cutler could appear better. If Gase allows the run game to drive the offense, if he utilizes a healthy mix of play action passes, if he allows Cutler to roll out more that the 1 per game average of last year, then Cutler may improve on his 2014 passer rating of 88.6.

There's good in Cutler and there's bad, and now it's up to head coach John Fox, O.C. Adam Gase and quarterback coach Dowell Loggains to limit the bad as much as possible.

In 2014, Jay Cutler graded a out at career low -17.0 according to Pro Football Focus. That's a 32.2 point drop off from his 2013 grade of +15.2.

If the Chicago Bears, as new GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox said, 'get back to running the ball and playing better defense,' then Cutler will be fine as the starting quarterback for 2015.

Is "fine" good enough? It could be, but that is yet to be determined.

Jimmy Clausen - free agent - Clausen does have some history with new Bears head coach John Fox, but I'm not sure if that will be the deciding factor if he returns or not. The Bears will need to add a veteran back up quarterback this off season and Clausen might be the best option when considering price and potential.

David Fales - signed through 2017 - Even though Fales was drafted under the Emery/Trestman regime, it doesn't make any sense to part ways with him until the new coaching staff has a chance to see him up close in training camp.

2015 OUTLOOK - Fales will be around to fight for a job, but the Bears will want at least one veteran in camp. If it's not Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore is one possibility if for nothing else, his familiarity with head coach John Fox. Moore was with Fox in Carolina and he made 13 starts for him in three seasons. His body of work in the NFL is better than Clausen's, but he'll also come at a higher price tag.

Chicago's new QB coach Dowell Loggains worked with Brian Hoyer last year in Cleveland, but he's another guy that may be a bit pricey. Loggains also has experience with Jake Locker, from his time in Tennessee, but Locker will need to prove he's healthy before finding a new job.

The entire crop of free agent quarterbacks isn't exactly exciting. Do the names Ryan Mallett, Michael Vick, Jason Campbell, Matt Flynn, Blaine Gabbert or Christian Ponder do anything for you?

Every free agent QB I mentioned in this article had a negative grade according to Pro Football Focus. The "best" free agent QB according to Pro Football Focus is T.J. Yates who posted a .8 grade, but that was in just 18 snaps.

What do you think the Bears will do at the quarterback position in 2015?