We’ve all heard about the impact that the Jay Cutler trade will have on his former and new teams, the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears, respectively. Let’s take a look at how other teams and players will be affected by a trade that, on the surface at least, had nothing to do with them.

The Detroit Lions

With Cutler out of the picture, I think it becomes even more apparent that the Lions will draft Georgia Quarterback Matt Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick. QB and offensive tackle are two positions that are worth the kind of money that a No. 1 overall pick receives, and Baylor OT Jason Smith isn’t entirely out of the picture yet. However, an offensive lineman will be around at No. 20 if they choose Stafford at No. 1. There is no guarantee that one of the three franchise QBs in this year’s draft will be around at No. 20 if they elect to go with Smith at No. 1.

Mark Sanchez

The University of Southern California’s QB has cemented his status as the number two QB in this draft with an impressive pro day workout, and he appeared to be on the way up the draft boards before the Cutler trade happened. Now that Cutler is no longer available, expect Sanchez to be valued even higher. The teams that lost out on the Jay Cutler sweepstakes (the Redskins, Panthers, Jets, Buccaneers) that do not have a high first-round pick may have to swing a trade with a team that drafts before San Francisco and Denver, at No. 10 and No. 12, respectively, if they want a chance to draft Sanchez. If Denver wants, however, they appear to be the team in the best position to trade up for Sanchez; the No. 12 pick and the extra third-round selection they received from the Bears in the Cutler deal may be enough to do it.

Josh Freeman

Kansas State’s QB is the only other QB prospect expected to be drafted on day one. The teams that won’t have enough ammunition to trade up for Sanchez may set their sights a little lower and try to nab Freeman.

The Jacksonville Jaguars

Although a handful of teams in the top 10 may be interested in moving down and acquiring more picks, no one may want to do so more than Jacksonville at No. 8. The Jags’ top needs could be addressed later in the first round, and the No. 8 spot might be high enough to draft QB Mark Sanchez.

The New York Jets

The Jets want to win now. With Cutler in Chicago and not a lot to offer in a trade to get Sanchez or Freeman, they may settle for free agent QBs Jeff Garcia or Byron Leftwich and try their luck with a QB next year.

Julius Peppers

Carolina’s franchised defensive end may be the only way that the Panthers would be able to move up in the first round and get a QB. Carolina is without a first-round pick after trading it to Philadelphia last year. Peppers wants out of Carolina, and the Cutler deal may get him his wish.

In early 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers organization was faced with a difficult task: who would succeed Bill Cowher as only the third head coach for the Steelers since 1969. Because of coaching vacancies elsewhere (including Arizona and Miami), the Steelers’ decision was undoubtedly going to echo throughout the league.

The front-runners for the job were well-respected offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm. Whisenhunt was seen as the likely successor for Cowher, both within the organization and throughout the NFL. Hiring Whisenhunt would also almost guarantee keeping Grimm, a popular coach among Steelers players. Long-shot candidate Mike Tomlin, defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, was also rumored to be in the mix.

After the Steelers’ front office spent more time interviewing the candidates than expected, Whisenhunt bolted for the head coaching gig at NFC doormat Arizona. About a week later, the Steelers announced the hiring of Tomlin over Grimm. Grimm joined Arizona shortly after to accept an assistant head coaching job with the Cardinals.

Since then, Whisenhunt has tried to bring Pittsburgh football to Arizona. Currently, Arizona has a good number of coaches and role players that used to be with the Steelers. The Cardinals have become somewhat of a ‘Diet-Pittsburgh’ during Whisenhunt’s tenure with the club. It has obviously come with good results: the Cardinals find themselves in position to win their first championship since 1947 – currently the longest drought in the NFL.

Being so closely related to Pittsburgh gives Arizona some serious advantages. Many of the Steelers that Whisenhunt coached during Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl run are still with the team. Whisenhunt and company know those players’ strengths and weaknesses, and you can be sure that the Cardinals staff will try to exploit as many of those weaknesses as possibly during Super Bowl XLIII. During last year’s regular season meeting between these two teams, Arizona took advantage of this insider information and beat Pittsburgh 21-14. That game may not have made much difference in the standings, but you can be sure that it was an important victory for Whisenhunt and his staff.

The disadvantage for the Cardinals becoming ‘Diet-Pittsburgh’ is that they are now matched up against the original Pittsburgh. The Steelers hold an obvious advantage in playing the style of football they have been accustomed to for decades.

The Cardinals are clearly the underdogs in Super Bowl XLIII. But after being declared as the worst team to ever make the playoffs by one analyst and being picked by many – including myself – to lose every step of the playoffs they have taken, they find themselves in position to be the champions of the NFL. It may not be smart to underestimate them again.

Prediction

Steelers 27 ? Cardinals 13

Arizona’s O and Pittsburgh’s D play evenly throughout the first half. Ben Roethlisberger gives the Steelers a lead in the third quarter that proves too much for the Cardinals to come back from. Steelers SS Troy Polamalu is named Super Bowl MVP.

Matchups to Watch

Cardinals’ WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. Steelers’ CB Ike Taylor.

Both players are having their best years as pros this season. Fitzgerald, however, is a monster right now and will be tough to cover. Expect the Steelers to drape a safety over the top of Fitzgerald so their corners and linebackers can help stop the underneath crossing routes Fitzgerald has killed previous teams with.

Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cardinals’ FS Antrel Rolle

In Super Bowl XL, Roethlisberger struggled. Look for him to rebound with a strong performance in Super Bowl XLIII. Rolle has excelled since making the move from CB to FS this year. If the Cardinals want to win, Rolle will have to have a big game in pass coverage.

X-Factor

Steelers’ LB LaMarr Woodley

With the Cardinals probably paying more attention to defensive MVP James Harrison rushing QB Kurt Warner on the other side, Woodley could prove to be the game’s most important player. Warner gets rid of the ball quickly, but if Woodley pressures him into rushing some throws, it could be a long game for Arizona.

10.) Falcons Draft the Duke

In Round 17 of the 1972 draft, the Atlanta Falcons drafted John Wayne. That’s right, the John Wayne. Falcons coach Norm Van Brocklin stood up and yelled, “Do we want the roughest, toughest s.o.b. in the draft?!” Everyone agreed, so Van Brocklin phoned in and told Commissioner Pete Rozelle of the selection. Rozelle disallowed the pick.

9.) Philly Fans Boo McNabb

With the second pick of the 1999 draft, the Eagles selected Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb. Eagles fans at the draft booed the selection, wanting Texas halfback Ricky Williams instead. This shouldn’t have come as too big of a surprise, however, since Philadelphia once booed Santa Clause off the field in 1968.

8.) Iron Mike Falls in Love with Ricky

Speaking of Ricky Williams, he found his way into the Top 10 Draft Memories twice. Impressive. In that 1999 draft, Mike Ditka of the Saints made a trade with the Redskins to obtain Williams. The price was steep; all six of the Saints’ draft picks that year and two more in 2000, one of which ended up being second overall. Alas, the best player that came out of any of those picks was LB La’Var Arrington. This was truly a lose, lose situation for both teams.

7.) George Allen Deals Draft Picks: Again

Redskins GM George Allen loved trading draft picks. He enjoyed it so much, he sometimes traded the same pick numerous times. In the 1973 draft, he traded his second round pick to the Jets and again later to the Rams. He traded his third and fourth round picks that same year to both the Bills and the Chargers. It took the NFL one year to notice Allen’s deceit; the Redskins were subsequently fined $5,000 and forced to give up additional draft picks.

6.) Raiders Draft Kicker in First Round

Despite the fact that he might be deported back to his home country of Poland because of attempted bribery charges, the Raiders still selected Florida State kicker Sebastian Janikowski with the 17th pick of the 2000 draft. Taken with the next two picks were QB Chad Pennington and RB Shawn Alexander.

5.) Vikings Run Out of Time

While trying to make a deal with the Baltimore Ravens, who were trying to trade up to the #7 spot for Marshall QB Byron Leftwich, the Vikings ran over their 15-minute time limit. Jacksonville and Carolina subsequently drafted the players they wanted before Minnesota could phone in their selection at #9.

4.) Every New York Jets Draft

I think I could have filled an entire Top 10 Memorable list using only the New York Jets draft picks. This team has consistently baffled draft experts with its selections. The Jets have reached for amazing duds such as fullback Roger Vick and tight end Johnny Mitchell in the first round. The most notable Jet draft blunder came in 1983, however, when they passed on QB Dan Marino at the number 24 spot and instead drafted QB Ken O’Brien. Marino went to the Dolphins at number 27 and became one of league’s all time great passers.

3.) The Redskins Draft Their Man, Twice

With the ninth overall selection in the 1946 draft, the Redskins selected Cal Rossi, a halfback for UCLA. The Redskins, however, failed to notice that their pick was only a junior and not eligible to play in the league then. So, with the third overall pick in the 1947 draft, the Redskins drafted Rossi again. Rossi then informed the team he had no desire to play professional football.

2.) Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf

The Indianapolis Colts, sitting on the first pick in the 1998 draft, were unsure of who to take with the top pick. They needed a franchise quarterback and two were available: Tennessee QB Peyton Manning and Washington State QB Ryan Leaf. The Colts took Manning, leaving Leaf for the San Diego Chargers (who also were searching for a franchise quarterback) with the second pick. At the time, both were seen as can’t miss prospects. Ten years later, Manning is a perennial pro-bowler and Super Bowl champion. Leaf, after starting 21 games and throwing 36 interceptions, is now the quarterbacks coach at West Texas A&M.

1.) No One Told Norm

In the 18th round of the 1944 draft, Philadelphia selected Syracuse University fullback Norm Michael. The Eagles couldn’t get a hold of Michael because he had enlisted in the Army, so they never informed him that he had been drafted. Michael never found out he had been drafted until he read it in the newspaper – in 1999! “That was the first I heard of it,” Michael said.