Cutler’s deal opens the field

The deal Thursday that sent quarterback Jay Cutler from Denver to Chicago for a Brinks truck full of draft picks wasn’t just a tale of two cities.

It will reverberate throughout the NFL.

It’s also good news for Georgia’s Matt Stafford, USC’s Mark Sanchez and the fast-rising Josh Freeman of Kansas State, because it could trigger a run on quarterbacks at the top of the draft.

Consider this: Had Cutler gone to Detroit instead of Chicago, that would have satisfied the Lions’ need for a quarterback.

It also would have pushed down the elite tier of quarterbacks and increased the likelihood of at least one passer taking a big slide, the way Aaron Rodgers, Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn did in recent years.

As it stands, though, the Lions are inching closer to taking Stafford, who had a great private workout. Unless there’s a drastic change over the next three weeks, if a quarterback is taken No. 1, it will be Stafford.

With Cutler gone, Denver joins the list of teams in search of a quarterback, because Kyle Orton -- who came to the Broncos as part of Thursday’s deal -- is a short-term solution at best.

Denver also has Darrell Hackney and Chris Simms, who has thrown two passes since undergoing emergency surgery to remove his spleen after a game with Tampa Bay in 2006.

Denver also received Chicago’s picks in the first and third rounds this year, and next year’s first-rounder, while giving up a fifth-round selection this year.

Armed with those picks, the Broncos have the ammunition to move up and take a quarterback in this draft, and with the way this class looks -- lots of good prospects, precious few great ones -- there will be more than enough teams in the top 10 willing to pick up the phone and talk trade.

Seattle would like to have a quarterback who could learn at the elbow of Matt Hasselbeck for the next couple of years, and the Seahawks sent their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach to USC’s pro day to study Sanchez.

If Seattle doesn’t take him, it’s likely that Sanchez goes to Jacksonville at eight or San Francisco at 10, provided another quarterback-hungry team such as Denver (12), the New York Jets (17), or Tampa Bay (19) doesn’t trade up.

The weeks-long Cutler conundrum doesn’t only impact this draft class but also current NFL quarterbacks.

The Vikings were involved in the early bidding for Cutler before dropping out, which probably raised an eyebrow for starter Tarvaris Jackson.

Minnesota might still be in the market for a quarterback at 22, but the Vikings would have to take a big jump to get into the top 10, and it would be big step back for their trade partner.

Washington’s Jason Campbell can’t be too comforted by his team’s flirtation with Cutler. Some reports had the Broncos on the verge of a deal with the Redskins, who have the 13th pick.

Jets quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff had to be shifting in their chairs too, bracing for news that Cutler was headed their way.

The Buccaneers have to address their quarterback situation. They have Luke McCown, who’s 1-6 and threw one pass last season; second-year pro Josh Johnson, who has virtually no experience; and Brian Griese, who hasn’t started an opener in four years.

What we do know is that Cutler’s 1,000-mile journey from Denver to Chicago is complete. But all those teams in search of a quarterback have miles to go.

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