04-02-2023, 07:07 PM
(04-02-2023, 09:38 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: When Burrow is making $50 mill a year, Chase and Tee $25-30 million each...it's going to be significantly harder to add free agents/retain guys. That's over $100 million in cap space tied up in 3 players. For perspective, the cap is around $225 million this year. Now it should go up a decent bit, but even if it's $260 million, can you tie up that much in 3 guys?
As far as production, I'd imagine all 3 of those guys are probably 85-90% to their statistical ceilings. So you'll be paying astronomically more for similar production.
Even $75-80 million in Burrow/Chase is challenging, but I think doable.
Does anyone see any way to make this work?
Sure, decisions will have to be made. But a couple thing.
1) It won't all happen at once. Burrow's deal will have around a $7.5 mil signing bonus that will count this year. His cap hit will be around $19 mil. The 5th year option is $29.5, + the signing bonus, now you are talking $37 mil in 2024. $2025, when the thing actually kicks in, it will jump to $45-$50, but the jump will actually be smaller than next year. Chase's extension won't be until 2026, signed in 2025.
2) There is a limit. Higgins & Wilson (2024), Burrow (2025), and Chase (2026) will be the last of the gyys coming off rookie deals who get huge money extensions. The cap will continue to go up every year, significantly as the gambling $$$ rolls in. The big hit will be 2024, with Tee & Wilson's deals kicking in, and Burrow's 5th year option kicking in.
3) 2024. Burrow's leap will be around $18 mil. Say Tee matches that. $36 mil..Plus whatever Wilson's is, say a jump of $7 mil. $43 million. A lot. Who could come off the books in 2024? Jonah ($12.6), Mixon ($10 mil net), Collins ($7 mil net). That's nearly $30 mil right there. Plus the cap will go up. Say $10 mil, that's $40. Reader ($15.5), Boyd ($10.3 mil), BJ Hill ($7.5 net), andAwuzie ($8 mil) are all big money guys we could move on from. That's another $40 mil right there. Now, I hope some of those guys will be back on reasonable deals. Some will be. But it is not like we din't have options to save $$.
4) The draft. We are gonna have to draft productive, cheaper players to replace some of these guys. And be smart in FA. And, perhaps, cash out some guys in trade.
5) Contending teams with star players do this all the time. It is not new, it is just new for us.
