Franchise Tag: Demarcus Lawrence & the Salary Cap

[Sydla]

That’s DL proposed would struggle to get to the QB most likely. We’ve seen that song and dance before.

You want to nickel and dime the front seven with mid priced FAs and rookies? You better bring in a dynamic DC who can scheme a legit pass rush.

 

[diefree666]

my problem with signing DLaw to a long term deal is his health. Basically his back. And I always worry about a player that has a career year in his contract year. I would franchise him IF we cannot get a reasonable deal long term. By reasonable I mean not one that is solely predicated on this year. An incentive laden deal that gives big rewards for PRODUCTION.

Trading Tyron is nuts. just nuts. The whole league will know that if we are trading him its because we believe his health is breaking down. So NO one will bite. Its like with Tony; the whole league knew Jerry was going to release him that is why no one even offered a late pick for him. Which I believe some very much regret now; had Jerry done this early Tony might have gone along with it depending on which team. But it dragged out and Tony finally decided to hang it up especially with that really great deal CBS offered ( which came after the trade would have occurred)

The Pats get away with under paying players because so many go there hoping for a ring. No other team will get away with it. The Pats do spend big on FA's (Darrel Revis anyone?) but they are pretty good in their judgement when they do; more plusses than failures.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Nobody really wants to Franchise a player. The player wants long term security and the team wants the same with a player. It is just a tool used to equal things out some even though a player might complain..>They are getting paid a great amount for a year, the team is getting the player for the year.

So you got two players both with a history of back issues now.

That really has to be looked and and be a concern.

With that said. You can't let two of the most important positions on any team go without some security in their replacements.

It has taken this team years to get a quality LT and what appears to be a quality Pass rushing DE and people think you can just get rid of them. draft another easy peasy in on draft and move on...or just bring in some lower level players to make up for it.

Just as there are no guarantees that these back issues or injuries will go away...there are no guarantees you will get a suitable replacement for to cornerstone position players.

What might be the prudent move is to keep these guys for now and try to draft or acquire other players to groom under them with the hopes of them taking over if needed. However...easier said than done but I think it would be best way to approach it.

Look...we let most of our exp CB corp go last year and took a pretty big gamble one some rookie DBs . It seems, seems at this time, to have paid off. I don't know if you can try and take that gamble again with OT or DE

So let's not go to extremes to either try and make a look at me thread then complain about it when people take your shock and awe style and then go through each response that does not bode well for your point of view in a manner that makes it clear that you are only interested in takes that mirror yours.

 

[Sydla]

In the end, one of the biggest hinderances here to any creative offseason plan is the fact we don’t have a coaching staff that can adapt and get creative with the existing roster.

For example, if you had a dynamic DC that could scheme pressure, then maybe you can not resign Lawrence. But we don’t. Marinelli needs Lawrence to make his D work.

 

[Galian Beast]

Please see my post and respond to what I said. You have this vision in your head that you somehow think is "the only way" and fail to acknowledge any other point of view.

Again, letting Lawrence walk gives Garrett - a guy you want gone - yet another built-in excuse to disappoint in 2018.

I agree with you that Lawrence's history of uspension and injury makes any decision a tough one, but simply letting the "War Daddy" they've been searching for walk out the door is the worst-case scenario that one could choose.

Like I said, whether it gives garrett an excuse doesn't change the fact that it is the right move to make.

 

[Galian Beast]

How about tagging Lawrence and trading him for picks. With the way you are thinking why not trade Zack. Tyron is coming off of injuries, you will not get what he is worth. Martin and Lawrence would get us early draft picks. They both are in their primes. New England would do it.

Zack is healthy and our best lineman. I wouldn't trade him nor do I think you'd get the value out of a guard that he is worth.

I don't see many players tagged and traded. That could be an option though.

 

[Stash]

Like I said, whether it gives garrett an excuse doesn't change the fact that it is the right move to make.

Or you think it's "the right move to make".

Given your position here, and a plan that includes not paying $18 million to keep Lawrence, while losing $18 million in trading your only left tackle, you didn't think things through.

 

[Proof]

For Taco to be freed up? LOL Its already starting and the season ended just a few days ago.

i'm not sure what you're saying. if i'm misunderstanding you, or you're misunderstanding me. i'm using freed up as in the oline scheming to stop d law allowing taco to be disruptive.

 

[Stash]

In the end, one of the biggest hinderances here to any creative offseason plan is the fact we don’t have a coaching staff that can adapt and get creative with the existing roster.

For example, if you had a dynamic DC that could scheme pressure, then maybe you can not resign Lawrence. But we don’t. Marinelli needs Lawrence to make his D work.

For all of the valid criticism that can be laid at the feet of Marinelli, he does deserve credit for helping to develop Lawrence into the player he is today, as well as David Irving.

I've criticized him plenty, and for what I feel are valid reasons, but I'll also give the man his due. He's a very good defensive line coach and can teach players to rush the passer.

 

[CowboyRoy]

i'm not sure what you're saying. if i'm misunderstanding you, or you're misunderstanding me. i'm using freed up as in the oline scheming to stop d law allowing taco to be disruptive.

I got the feeling from your comment that you see Taco as a big part of the near future. I just find it rather funny using Taco and the term disruptive in the same sentence. As if you are already assuming Taco is going to be some kind of disruptive force next season.

 

[CowboyRoy]

For all of the valid criticism that can be laid at the feet of Marinelli, he does deserve credit for helping to develop Lawrence into the player he is today, as well as David Irving.

I've criticized him plenty, and for what I feel are valid reasons, but I'll also give the man his due. He's a very good defensive line coach and can teach players to rush the passer.

I think if you give this guy the talent he can put a good product on the field. The two deep secondary thing I am not so hot on.

 

[Stash]

I think if you give this guy the talent he can put a good product on the field. The two deep secondary thing I am not so hot on.

I definitely saw improvement overall defensively. They were flat out awful to start the season, and mistakes in personnel were obviously made, but I saw improvement over the course of the season too.

In terms of the Big Three I want gone, Rod comes in a distant third place.

 

[Galian Beast]

Or you think it's "the right move to make".

Given your position here, and a plan that includes not paying $18 million to keep Lawrence, while losing $18 million in trading your only left tackle, you didn't think things through.

I thought it through. Read the OP.

You're going to take a hit on moving Smith if you move him now. - I stated that in the OP.

The point of moving him now is that potentially you could have someone take a flier on him because his contract becomes very team friendly.

The point of moving him would be to get a pick that could be used to replace him.

Is the player drafted going to be as good? Almost certainly not, but at this rate you must shift focus away from an offense that isn't going to be sustainable as is, and shift those resources towards a defense that is getting better.

That being said, pooling all your resources into a high risk player like Lawrence is ASKING for trouble. Anyone should be able to see that.

 

[Stash]

I got the feeling from your comment that you see Taco as a big part of the near future. I just find it rather funny using Taco and the term disruptive in the same sentence. As if you are already assuming Taco is going to be some kind of disruptive force next season.

I saw improvement from him as the season went along, and he looked to be a capable contributor by the end. If not for more of the non-called holds we've gotten all year, I saw at least another sack or two out there.

I was the furthest thing from a "Taco fan" when he was drafted, but I liked how he progressed, improved, and never quit.

 

[Galian Beast]

so dont sign him long term and dont franchise him? So let him walk? I think Ill pass on reading the rest.

Don't reply then.

Or do you just like reading yourself type?

 

[Galian Beast]

Ok well have fun in your fantasy world, I prefer to deal with reality.

Reality is that this team is better with Lawrence, and there won’t be a replacement brought in even close to replacing Lawrence’s production.

Unless we're getting hired, this is all fantasy

 

[Galian Beast]

Being among league leaders in sacks despite being dragged to the ground in 9 straight games is consistent enough.

Pass rushers are rare. You finally got one keep him.

Sorry, you’re wrong. He’s worth the gamble.

Even in a perfect world if he were to perform as he did this year, next year, the risk involved with injury is far too great.

Again, please find me a "war daddy" that has recently won a super bowl.

 

[Stash]

I thought it through. Read the OP.

You're going to take a hit on moving Smith if you move him now. - I stated that in the OP.

And like the rest, you hid in the grey.

You never gave the actual numbers to move Smith. Either because you didn't know or because you were afraid to, you decide which.

And you also casually mention "4 or 5 players" at $5 million ( then changed to 3), but never give any examples for that either.

It was a poor attempt at a plan and one obviously not fully thought through. Accept it and move on rather than fighting with anyone and everyone who points it out to you.

The point of moving him now is that potentially you could have someone take a flier on him because his contract becomes very team friendly.

The point of moving him would be to get a pick that could be used to replace him.

And more grey. What "pick" are you getting for a guy that everyone knows is being moved due to injury?

Is the player drafted going to be as good? Almost certainly not, but at this rate you must shift focus away from an offense that isn't going to be sustainable as is, and shift those resources towards a defense that is getting better.

While letting go of the best player from that same defense? Do you see your own contradictions here?

That being said, pooling all your resources into a high risk player like Lawrence is ASKING for trouble. Anyone should be able to see that.

And everyone is disagreeing with you.

Again, I don't dispute the fact that there are risks. There certainly are. But there are even bigger risks - and almost guaranteed failure - letting the pass rusher that you've so long coveted simply walk out the door for a 3rd round pick in 2019.

 

[Sydla]

I thought it through. Read the OP.

You're going to take a hit on moving Smith if you move him now. - I stated that in the OP.

The point of moving him now is that potentially you could have someone take a flier on him because his contract becomes very team friendly.

The point of moving him would be to get a pick that could be used to replace him.

Is the player drafted going to be as good? Almost certainly not, but at this rate you must shift focus away from an offense that isn't going to be sustainable as is, and shift those resources towards a defense that is getting better.

That being said, pooling all your resources into a high risk player like Lawrence is ASKING for trouble. Anyone should be able to see that.

You probably aren’t getting as valuable pick for Smith that you think. If Dallas shops him, as has been pointed out, teams will immediately think damaged goods.

When was the last time a top level LT was traded from a team that wasn’t awful and just trying to dump big contracts?

 

[xwalker]

They can restructure, cut or re-sign players(Martin) as needed to increase cap space. Don't need to be an accountant to figure that out.

It's beyond comprehension to also let your best passrusher, in the prime age of most passrushers careers to simply walk away, too. Besides finding a franchise QB, getting a legit LT and DE is up there on the importance list, hence why great DEs get paid the way they do.
Not like we have a plethora of quality DE's behind Lawrence waiting for more PT. Besides, the franchise tag can be used as a temporary method in order to get a long term deal established without having to worry about a team poaching him.



His cap hit is 17.5mil next year, #1 in the league for Left Tackles for 2018

https://overthecap.com/position/left-tackle/2018/

I do agree trading him is silly, even with the recent injuries. Even when hampered, he still is a top LT in the game. Even if they did want to trade him, due to restructures, we would owe him more money if we traded him before June 1st. (18.3mil dead cap)

Cap hit is not a good way to look at a player.

Look at their salary for the season and average salary.

Any cap hit over the average salary (includes bonuses) is money that was spent on other players but was "borrowed" from this player's cap allocation.

Tyron's average salary is 12.2M. If they charged 12.2M to the cap every year then his cap hit would equal his salary. But in reality they have charged less than the 12.2M to the cap each year and have used the the difference to pay other players.

Tyron has still cost the team 12.2M per on average despite having a 17.5M cap hit.