Could Cutler be Vikings next target?

The Vikings lost out to Seattle in their pursuit of free-agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on Monday, but that didn't mean all was quiet at Winter Park.

The Denver Post reported the Vikings are among the teams that have expressed interest in Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, and talks between the sides were believed to be ongoing Monday. It remains unclear what the Vikings might be offering.

The news broke three days after the Vikings completed a trade that sent a fourth-round draft pick to Houston for Sage Rosenfels. He and Tarvaris Jackson are expected to compete for the starting quarterback job, but neither is at the level of Cutler, a 2006 first-round pick who made his first Pro Bowl this past season. The Vikings made inquiries about Cutler's availability at the NFL scouting combine last month.

Vikings coach Brad Childress was elusive when asked at Rosenfels' introductory news conference whether the team would add a top-tier quarterback.

"Don't know, I'm not clairvoyant," Childress said.

Cutler, 25, and the Broncos have been at odds since reports surfaced over the weekend that the team was involved in talks with Tampa Bay and New England that would have sent Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel to Denver. That would have reunited Cassel with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, who had served as New England's offensive coordinator. Cassel ultimately was dealt to Kansas City.

Cutler, who also is being sought by Detroit, has reportedly refused to meet with the 32-year-old McDaniels in recent days. The Broncos have attempted to downplay the trade reports.

"We don't want to trade Jay," McDaniels told the Post. "We never did. He's our quarterback."

Denver almost certainly would need to get a quarterback in return for Cutler, as his backup from last year, Patrick Ramsey, is an unrestricted free agent. However, the animosity between Cutler and the Broncos could make the situation untenable. In fact, Sports Illustrated reported Cutler asked for a trade in January after the Broncos lost offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to Southern California.

"I'm upset. I mean, I'm really shocked at this point," Cutler told the Post. "I could see why they want Cassel. I don't know if they think I can't run the system or I don't have the skills for it. I just don't get it. Or if they don't think they can sign me with my next contract. I just don't know what it is. I've heard I'm still on the trading block."

Cutler's agent, Bus Cook, told the Associated Press that the Broncos' attempts to trade his client signaled a "vote of no confidence."

"I don't care if you're talking about trading him for Matt Cassel, Matt Ryan or Tom Brady," Cook said. "That's a vote of no confidence in him, and that's how Jay sees it and I would, too. I don't know if they were actively seeking to trade Jay, but on the other hand, I don't know that they were turning a deaf ear to potential offers, either."

The Vikings might be in the Cutler sweepstakes, but they are out of the running for the 31-year-old Houshmandzadeh, who picked the Seahawks over Minnesota and Cincinnati.

The top-rated receiver on the free-agent market agreed to a reported $40 million, five-year deal that includes more than $15 million in guarantees. The Vikings and Seattle both were believed to have three-year offers on the table Sunday, but the Seahawks decided to up the ante. This was likely to compete with the Bengals.

Houshmandzadeh, who had spent his entire eight-year career with Cincinnati, passed up an offer from the Bengals that exceeded the five-year, $35 million contract the Giants gave Plaxico Burress last summer. Houshmandzadeh admitted to ESPN that it was "hard to say no" to the Vikings.

The selection of available receivers is now becoming more limited by the day. The Vikings liked Nate Washington, but he left Pittsburgh to sign with Tennessee on Monday.

The Vikings receiver corps presumably would be more productive with Cutler, who passed for 4,526 yards with 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions last season.

It's unclear who would be the odd man out if a trade for Cutler happened. Any offer likely would need to start with the Vikings' first-round pick (22nd overall) but certainly would not end there. The team traded a first- and two third-round picks to Kansas City last year for Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen.

Cutler's value to the Vikings would be increased by the fact that he has spent three seasons playing in a West Coast offense under Mike Shanahan, who was fired as Denver coach after last season. The system wasn't identical to the Vikings' version, but there are similarities.