News: KC Star Columnist "The time is right to trade Eric Berry"

[Alexander]

I'd do a 2 or 3 for him. He's a game changer and I don't see Dix or Pryor being better then him.

He is only a game changer because we have all forgotten what a real free safety looks like.

The only safety worth giving up a ton for plays in Seattle and he is not going anywhere.

 

[thunderpimp91]

This team has a lot of draft picks this year. No way I give up a 2nd or 1st, but I have no problem giving up two mid round picks. I'd throw a 3rd and 5th out there and see if KC bites. You bring in a DE and DT rounds 1 and 2, then bring in Berry, all of a sudden you have a. very respectable defense..... provided you don't come up with total busts. The big issue with berry , as others have said can you sign him long term?

 

[joseephuss]

Absolutely. Our first this year would be a bargain.

This article suggests Berry could possibly be had for a 2nd and a 3rd round pick and you automatically start talking about a 1st. That doesn't make sense. First round picks shouldn't be thrown away so casually.

 

[casmith07]

I would be hurt more if I was capable (No depth goin on ove er)

This article suggests Berry could possibly be had for a 2nd and a 3rd round pick and you automatically start talking about a 1st. That doesn't make sense. First round picks shouldn't be thrown away so casually.

I would do the trade for a 2nd or a 3rd, not both. And only if we're outright releasing Heath and Johnson and rolling with a starting tandem of Berry and Wilcox. We need more roster spots for defensive linemen and linebackers.

 

[DallasEast]

I have always considered Ron Marinelli as a good defensive line innovator, but using Eric Berry as a defensive tackle or end? I just don't see that happening... Wait. Oh. People want to ignore a crucial defensive upgrade for just an upgrade in the secondary. Well, I can see that. Berry would really solidify the secondary, but the move doesn't really address our overall defensive weaknesses as much as controlling the trenches and putting consistent, four quarters a game, pressure on the quarterback does. It's a good thought though. Back to work. Uh oh. Did I type all that? Crap! Delete! Delete! Delete!

 

[BigStar]

I would do the trade for a 2nd or a 3rd, not both. And only if we're outright releasing Heath and Johnson and rolling with a starting tandem of Berry and Wilcox. We need more roster spots for defensive linemen and linebackers.

That would be a given, get the great white hopes off this team already. If they have talnet (of course keep em) but we are clinging to these Rudy's I guess for their character or something? Sure hasn't been any potential on the field...

 

[xwalker]

Good lord.

And to answer, no. We do not need to grossly overpay in the form of giving away draft picks and then signing him to a costly extension. I would much rather roll the dice that Earl Thomas decides to test free agency in March of 2015 and use our projected $20M in cap space to make a play for him.

Or, just wait for Eric Berry to hit free agency because he's about to anyway -- KC won't be able to keep him. That Dwayne Bowe extension makes no sense.

This, this and this!

In the modern NFL with the current CBA, it is a bad idea to give up both picks and a big chunk of cap space.

Draft picks are how good teams manage the salary cap. Good teams get production from draft picks on their initial "cheap" contracts. This allows the team to have room to sign their own players to extensions or to sign free agents.

If a team is going to spend big money on a player, then there is no reason to give up draft picks. One of the top rated Safeties was a free agent this year. They could have signed him for a contract similar to what Berry will get and it wouldn't cost any draft picks.

If there were just 2 things that I could get people to understand, it would be this and the fact that Romo can't be traded due the salary cap ramifications.

 

[casmith07]

That would be a given, get the great white hopes off this team already. If they have talnet (of course keep em) but we are clinging to these Rudy's I guess for their character or something?

I have seen enough of Jeff Heath to know that he will never be a starting caliber safety in the NFL. He is out of position in simple coverages and lacks the speed to cover tight ends effectively and the range to cover his deep half of the field.

His only redeeming quality, like Johnson, is they are both good tacklers. In Johnson's case, good tackling doesn't help the team if you can't stay on the field. In Heath's case, good tackling doesn't help if you aren't even in position to tackle the ball carrier in the first place.

He also stands flat-footed way too often for a player at this level (or any level). For a player seeing starting reps on an NFL team, I should not see you on film displaying piss poor BASIC fundamentals like standing flat-footed looking in the backfield.

 

[BigStar]

This, this and this!

In the modern NFL with the current CBA, it is a bad idea to give up both picks and a big chunk of cap space.

Draft picks are how good teams manage the salary cap. Good teams get production from draft picks on their initial "cheap" contracts. This allows the team to have room to sign their own players to extensions or to sign free agents.

If a team is going to spend big money on a player, then there is no reason to give up draft picks. One of the top rated Safeties was a free agent this year. They could have signed him for a contract similar to what Berry will get and it wouldn't cost any draft picks.

If there were just 2 things that I could get people to understand, it would be this and the fact that Romo can't be traded due the salary cap ramifications.

I hear ya both, but the drafting prowess of this team leads us to believe that? To our credit, we haven't missed on the 1st rounders in a minute (great job there) but we know we don't what we're doing after that round. Out of Central Valley Community College...

 

[casmith07]

This, this and this!

In the modern NFL with the current CBA, it is a bad idea to give up both picks and a big chunk of cap space.

Draft picks are how good teams manage the salary cap. Good teams get production from draft picks on their initial "cheap" contracts. This allows the team to have room to sign their own players to extensions or to sign free agents.

If a team is going to spend big money on a player, then there is no reason to give up draft picks. One of the top rated Safeties was a free agent this year. They could have signed him for a contract similar to what Berry will get and it wouldn't cost any draft picks.

If there were just 2 things that I could get people to understand, it would be this and the fact that Romo can't be traded due the salary cap ramifications.

It's essentially a three-part strategy:

1. Use the draft to get high production from young players.
2. Extend young, transcendent talents (Bryant, Smith, Lee, eventually Frederick) and young players who are steady contributors who will not break the bank (Scandrick)
3. Use free agency to add quality depth or young players in their second contract who can have an immediate impact (Carr)

Other than that, the ONLY time you should be trading draft picks is on draft day. Period.

 

[casmith07]

I hear ya both, but the drafting prowess of this team leads us to believe that? To our credit, we haven't missed on the 1st rounders in a minute (great job there) but we know we don't what we're doing after that round. Out of Central Valley Community College...

The idea that the Cowboys "can't draft" is such an old adage that's based on one poor draft in a decade.

 

[BigStar]

The idea that the Cowboys "can't draft" is such an old adage that's based on one poor draft in a decade.

Naw, I will take our first round scoops, but who else? We are terrible in the 2nd round later (Lee is it)...We got Murray and Witten though! TW is a good prospect...Rat was a decade ago...

 

[casmith07]

Naw, I will take our first round scoops, but who else? We are terrible in the 2nd round later (Lee is it)...We got Murray and Witten though! TW is a good prospect...

Compare our 2nd rounds to other team's 2nd rounds. Nobody is any better or worse than we are at drafting, except maybe Washington. The Commanders have had horrific drafts.

 

[BigStar]

Compare our 2nd rounds to other team's 2nd rounds. Nobody is any better or worse than we are at drafting, except maybe Washington. The Commanders have had horrific drafts.

SEA?..any team that made the playoffs, etc. They obviously figured it out better than we did etc.

 

[Deep_South]

We don't look like a Super Bowl contender this year (hoping I'm wrong about that), so let's just build through the draft. We just need to hit on some picks the next couple of drafts the way Seattle did and hope Wilcox realizes his potential. If we must make a big trade, lets get a pass rusher.

 

[TheDallasDon]

Keep building through the draft if they want a safety, get Jimmie Ward in the 2nd

 

[Blackspider214]

I'm going to have to pass on another overrated DB from KC. We already got burned by that once.

 

[Fredd]

1) this is a columnist, not the team proposing the idea (it's like rowan saying this from a cowboys perspective)
2) the cost from this columnist, is WAY too expensive...two draft picks for one player, even if he is good?
3) he won't make the team better if there is no pass rush
4) taking the two picks away hurts the potential long-term success/depth of the team
5) his salary would likely be prohibitive this year for the team (not so much in future years)

 

[casmith07]

SEA?..any team that made the playoffs, etc. They obviously figured it out better than we did etc.

Not always true. Different teams are at different stages of their process. Scheme helps players as well. Chancellor was widely regarded as nothing but a head hunter until this year - now Zoners are declaring him one of the best in the NFL.

Don't look at the NFL in a vacuum. Just because the Seahawks won the Super Bowl doesn't mean they hit on 21 of their last 21 selections.

 

[BigStar]

Not always true. Different teams are at different stages of their process. Scheme helps players as well. Chancellor was widely regarded as nothing but a head hunter until this year - now Zoners are declaring him one of the best in the NFL.

Don't look at the NFL in a vacuum. Just because the Seahawks won the Super Bowl doesn't mean they hit on 21 of their last 21 selections.

I know Cas, I've been around. Was jsut pointing out our lack or play off success is tied into our drafting prowess. We'd be lying to ourselves if it didn't, etc.