For divisive Cutler, being good enough eventually didn't cut it

Jay Cutler should be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Period.

He's definitely better than these league starters:

• Josh McCown
• Jared Goff
• Blake Bortles
• Mike Glennon
• Trevor Siemian/Paxton Lynch
• Whoever the Browns start
• Brian Hoyer
• Deshaun Watson/Tom Savage

And Cutler's at least almost as good as these starting quarterbacks:

• Ryan Tannehill
• Joe Flacco
• Carson Wentz
• Andy Dalton
• Tyrod Taylor
• Alex Smith

You might disagree with some of those picks, but the point is: Cutler is more than good enough to have a job in the NFL right now. Instead, he's joining FOX Sports as an in-game analyst.

Cutler is just one season removed from posting a career-high 92.3 passer rating in 15 games. He looked more poised than ever before, and while he still loved a deep shot, he had begun to limit his signature "what the hell" throws.

Of course, the issue is more complicated than whether he's simply good enough to start. He was likely seeking starter money - so something around the $15 million per year Chicago gave Glennon to replace Cutler before he was suddenly replaced by Mitchell Trubisky.

Cutler's gruff, withdrawn persona likely also factored into his inability to find a shot at a starting gig, as did his extensive injury history.

And that's the issue. Cutler has reached the stage in his career where being good enough isn't good enough anymore. His perceived weaknesses finally outweigh his value to teams. Other quarterbacks with similar skill sets still have age on their side, big contracts, Super Bowls, or reputations as "winners."

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Cutler doesn't have any of that - at least, not anymore.

Now that the Chiefs traded up to get Patrick Mahomes, the same thing is happening to Smith. It will also likely happen to the likes of Dalton and Flacco if they can't bust out of their respective slumps soon.

Cutler always coasted on his sky-high potential, but at 34 years old, that no longer matters. Cutler is who he is - and that's the antithesis of everything NFL teams look for in a veteran, stopgap starter.

Teams want a boring, "safe" pair of hands like McCown, not a moody, turnover-prone player like Cutler, even if he's actually a far superior quarterback. That's why Smith will get a starting job elsewhere (or at least a chance to compete for one) after Mahomes takes over, and Cutler is left on the scrap heap.

Cutler, rightfully, opted not to sell himself short and instead took the first step into a new career.

But, as he watches from the booth, we'll all know Cutler could do better than a fair share of the quarterbacks he'll be commenting on.