I think it depends on how Melton comes back. Unless Melton is physically unable to go, then I think it's all but assured that he is back for another year. Even if we draft another DT, I don't think you can depend on that to cut Melton. I think he will almost certainly see year two, baring any kind of unforeseen injury issue. That means that we are either on the hook for 9 million next year or spreading out the cap hit, which means that we are basically spreading out 9 million over two additional years where Melton is already due to make 7.5 annually. How's that going to work? How much cap can you really restructure there? Let's say you want to lower his number to 6 Million in 2015, then you have to tack on 3 million over two more years to bring his salary to 9 Million per season (which would currently be the 3rd highest salary in the NFL for a DT and would be the same amount you are restructuring in the 1st place) or the cap hit accelerates into on year which brings the salary to 10.5 Million in 2016.
I just don't see us cutting Melton after the 1st year. That means that this contract locks us into a really high salary, especially if Melton does not perform like a top 2 or 3 DT in the League.
Last year, we could have paid right around 5 Million for the services of Brandon Maybane or Kindall Langford. A little less for Kyle Williams. A lot less for Atkins, Fairley and Darius. I realize some of these guys are on rookie contracts but even still, there is a substantial difference in what these guys are getting paid and what we will be paying Melton, if he stays for more then just a year.
I'm not at all sure that this is a great contract.