Jaylon is the type of guy you want to keep. He had the focus to go through 2 years of rehab basically, after a lot of people said he'd never play without a brace.
The dude is one of the most optimistic people I've ever seen. He never gets in trouble, you don't have to worry about him, and he has the chance to be another legitimate blue-chip player, and the potential to be a monster.
I looked at the numbers a while ago, even after DLaws contracts and expected numbers for other players. We're good.
The reason for talks now, is because he's probably going to have a damn good year, and next year you're either tendering him with a 1st rounder, or you risk a team coughing up a 2nd and offering him a ridiculous contract. A team could still potentially give up a 1st and offer him a deal. A 1st round tender next year is over $5mill guaranteed, and if he has a good year this year and next, who knows how much a young, talented LB costs?
Mosley is 3 years older and just got 5 years / $85million with $40m+ guaranteed, in two years we're probably going to see 90+. Maybe more if Jaylon turns into a beast, which could happen. He'll still be 2 years younger than Mosley is now, when a possible bidding war sparks off in the case of a tender next year.
The cap is going to be fine with a new deal. If you can get him cheaper now, it's smart to do it. You take the possible chance of having to meet an outrageous contract next year or the year after. I don't want to give him up for a 2nd, and he'd be an essential piece immediately so I don't think I'd give him up for a 1st either, unless it was a top 10 pick. But even that's no guarantee, and a Jaylon pro ready is probably a top pick in any draft.
So, you try to work out a deal with him now, instead of getting into a possible bidding war next year which is another year contracts go up, and the possibility that he has a great year. If you throw a 1st round tender on him, you still risk a team gladly giving up a first for a young centerpiece on a defense. We'd probably have to match a contract even with a 1st round tender.
I'd sign him to an extension now too, if he'd accept it. He may not, if I was Jaylon i don't know if I would. Just depends on the amount.
I hope we do get a deal done. I want Jaylon and LVE to man the LB spots for the next 5-6 years (LVE will be longer).
And if we're going to do it, now is the optimal time.