Former Broncos GM: Shanahan Would Have Preferred Drafting QB Other Than Cutler
PARKER, Colo. (CBS4) - The former general manager of the Denver Broncos says Mike Shanahan didn't have his heart set on Jay Cutler in the 2006 NFL Draft.
It was actually quarterback Matt Leinart who Shanahan really wanted, according to an article by Ted Sundquist, the former GM, in a new article in Bleacher Report titled Why I Drafted Jay Cutler, and What Happened from There.
Sundquist reveals in the article that the late Mike Heimerdinger was a big fan of Cutler, who had a long college career at Vanderbilt and was someone Heimerdinger was familiar with because he had been an assistant coach for the Tennessee Titans (the Commodores also play in Nashville).
The Broncos had brought in Heimerdinger to be Shanahan's assistant head coach that offseason, and Sundquist says Heimerdinger quickly had him convinced making a move to draft Cutler was favorable.
"I was most impressed by Cutler's dogged determination, toughness and tenacity," Sundquist wrote in the article about Cutler coming out of college.
Matt Leinart, a Heisman Trophy winner at USC, wound up being picked by the Cardinals at No. 10, and the Broncos made their move up the draft board to nab Cutler at No. 11.
Of course, the Broncos already had a starting quarterback by the name of Jake Plummer at the time, but according to Sundquist, everyone at the top of the Broncos organization wanted to pick a quarterback who could replace him and eventually become the new leader of the team.
Sundquist then details the very public quarterback drama that played out in the Mile High City. Shanahan wound up getting behind Cutler, and the coach eventually benched the veteran Plummer and gave the rookie the start.
He also goes into detail about the fascinating events surrounding the trade of Cutler to the Chicago Bears a few years later.
"Cutler's full development never took place, and though there were many outward signs of improvement, he was essentially sent to Chicago without his degree," Sundquist writes.
