Jay Cutler should be happy—with the 29th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft the Chicago Bears drafted offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, who should be a major boon to the Bears’ beleaguered quarterback no matter where on the line he ends up playing. A four year starter at Wisconsin, he’s regarded as a safe bet, according to our own Joel Thorman.
Given how important offensive linemen are in Mike Martz’s system, which is notoriously hard on quarterbacks, Carimi could be one of the most important picks of the draft, even coming 29th overall. If he makes a difference immediately, we could see the Jay Cutler Chicago fans have been expecting for the last two years; if he doesn’t, we could see Jay Cutler run out of Chicago on a rail.
Windy City Gridiron gives Carimi an A grade right now, which is a good start; Jay Cutler gives him an A++, according to sources close to the least-popular man in Chicago.
For a full recap of the 2011 NFL Draft to date, follow along here at SB Nation St. Louis, and for more draft coverage check out SB Nation’s NFL Draft hub.