Higgins Mock Trade. Would you?

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(02-05-2023, 12:27 AM)tms Wrote: You'd like to think so but it's a fair question. There's only so much pie. Just last summer KC parted ways with Tyreek, presumably because he and Mahomes couldn't co-exist on the same payroll. Adams-Rodgers, same thing. At this point in history QB1s and WR1s are arguably the most overpaid of all positions. 

I'm no capologist but I do know it'll be tough to juggle those two contracts (Burrow and Chase). To say nothing of keeping Tee Higgins as well. Not saying it can't be done, just that it'll be tough. It's why I personally find a deal like this (for Will Anderson Jr) so intriguing. It partly gets us out from under the weight of extending all these guys at the same time. But it also presupposes that Anderson will be a star- which is a gamble. Whereas we already know what Tee is.

Either way, if this team wants to compete on a sustainable basis they'll need to stagger the deals- one way or the other... and sooner than later. 

The Packers offered Adams more money than the Raiders did. He left because Rodgers couldn't guarantee he would be playing for the Packers for more than 2022. (Ironic because then one of his best friends Carr is going to be gone after a year in Vegas, but it's also looking like Rodgers won't be in Green Bay, so probably net positive choice for Adams?) Basically Adams just didn't want Jordan Love to be his QB. He started his career slow, so if he has any chance of the HoF he needs to dominate 2022-2026.

The Chiefs still had Travis Kelce (their real #1, he led the team in yards both 2019 and 2020 before losing out 2021 by 114, before Tyreek left) and had a $29.4m cap hit for Chris Jones in 2021. He has a $28.3m cap hit and Frank Clark's is $30m in 2023. That's why they chose the picks and adding multiple lower cost guys than extending Tyreek. Same reason I don't expect Tee to be extended here.

They can make Burrow and Chase work. They don't have any gigantic contracts right now. Tee too is where I don't think it'll really work, because that's adding an extra $25m/yr or whatnot.

I don't find the Anderson trade that intriguing because say you trade Tee Higgins not for the 2nd overall pick. You can expect to receive a 1st round pick in teens as well as a 3rd round pick. That's pretty much the going rate for a WR perceived as a #1. So by trading Tee along with your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, you're also forgoing a possible 1st and 3rd.

So you're basically trading two 1st rounders, a 2nd rounder, and two 3rd rounders for Anderson. I honestly am not sure there's ANYONE I would currently trade that amount for to get on the Bengals right now, even among current NFL players. That's 5 players you could have reasonable expectations to be at least solid contributors, to potentially stars, all under very reasonable contracts for at least 4 years each.

I'll take a 1st round TE, 1st round RT or RB, 2nd round RT or RB (whichever you don't take with your second first), a 3rd round CB, and a 3rd round WR over Anderson. Those picks could do wonders for filling a bunch of holes on the roster at affordable prices.

(02-05-2023, 01:22 AM)Bilbo Saggins Wrote: He'll see free agency if his agent tells him not to sign a contract before testing the market. It takes two consenting parties to strike a bargain, and if one or two teams tell his agent that they'll pay him an astronomical amount of money all bets are off. 

Except, WE will pay him an astronomical amount of money. If there's one thing that Mike Brown can never be accused of it's refusing to pay his QB and his #1 WR. Always has, historically, despite his cheapness most everywhere else.

Also that's tampering and cost the Dolphins a 1st and 3rd round pick, a couple million dollars, kicked their owner off the committees he was on, and suspended him from being with his team for a couple months. That was for Tom Brady. Nobody else is worth that risk. The next instance of something of that degree will be punished even harder.

No agent would ever tell a player to play for 2yr/~$25m (that's roughly how much his salary in year 4 and his 5th year option combined are) when there's a 5yr/$150m or 6yr/$180m extension on the table, and no player would pass up $30m/yr and a ~$30m signing bonus.

Not to mention that Ja'Marr Chase literally went door-to-door in Joe Burrow's neighborhood until he found someone who was willing to sell their house to him so he could live next to Burrow. The Bengals are extending Burrow. When they offer Chase the type of money he deserves, and they will, he's here for forever. He will never see free agency.