The late-round developmental quarterback is a myth, and for Bears fans who want Chicago to find Cutler's successor sooner rather than later, it's time to face the reality of the modern NFL.
In 2001, the Patriots signed their starting quarterback to a nine-digit contract and then went on to lose that starter in the second game of the season on their way to the Super Bowl. In doing so, they demonstrated for all time that the key to winning the Lombardi is to play against Mo Lewis and to lock up as much of your cap as possible in one player before trying to replace him with a late-round pick from the Big Ten.