As a rookie, Jay Cutler bounced Jake Plummer out of a starting job late in the season.  In 2008, he established himself as one of the best young QBs in all of the NFL.  He has a howitzer attached to his right shoulder which allows him to fit passes in tight windows that other QBs wouldn’t even attempt to.  He also is a good runner when he needs to be and he’s adept at buying time in the pocket.  The sky is the limit for Cutler.  He started all 16 games for the Broncos last season and he completed 297 of 467 passes (63.6%) for 3,497 yards with 20 TD passes and 14 interceptions (88.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 44 times for 205 yards (4.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.  If Cutler were in the NFC he would be a Pro Bowler this season but it might be hard to get there with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the same conference.  Cutler has now played in 21 games (all starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 378 of 604 passes (62.6%) for 4,498 yards with 29 TD passes and 19 interceptions (88.2 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 44 times for 205 yards (4.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.

Patrick Ramsey will be the backup QB for the Broncos again in 2008.  He has the tools to be a good NFL QB but everything doesn’t always click for him.  He played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Broncos last season and he completed 29 of 48 passes (60.4%) for 262 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception (73.4 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 2 times for 6 yards (3.0 ypc).  The Broncos wouldn’t fall flat if Ramsey were forced into action but make no mistake it would be a big dropoff.  Ramsey has played in 36 games (4 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 509 of 910 passes (55.9%) for 5,911 yards with 35 TD passes and 30 interceptions (74.8 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 47 times for 89 yards (1.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B+