What is Spencer Really Worth In A Trade?

[tm1119]

I don't want to trade Spencer, but I don't particularly want to extended him either. I'd be perfectly fine with letting him play out this year and then letting him walk in free agency. I don't understand the notion that you can't let him walk for "nothing". This isn't basketball or baseball where trades are much more common. The NFL is a different animal when it comes to trades. Not to mention the fact that I highly doubt the compensation pick we get from him signing elsewhere will be too far off from what we would receive in a trade now.

I like Spencer and he is a good player, but he's not great and he is definitely replaceable. 10 sacks and stout run defense from a 4-3 DE isn't exactly the hardest thing to come by. Let another team worry about signing him into his 30's and we can try to win now with him.

 

[xwalker]

It is too late to find a replacement for him in 2013. The Cowboys are really thin at DE and you shouldn't count on a rookie starting.

I would just keep him on the Franchise tag and wait for next off-season to determine if they want to re-sign him. If they get a rookie DE that shows something this season, then it would be much easier to allow Spencer to leave next season. If not, then they have the contracts that were given to DEs this year as a reference to start negotiations next year.

 

[Verdict]

First, you'd have to take into account that any trade that took place would also include a long term deal for Spencer. No team would trade much for a one year deal. That seems pretty obvious to some, but others aren't aware of that, so I figured I put it out there.

That said, If Spencer got to free agency this year, he very likely would have gotten a higher contract than any of the other guys playing the same/comparable positions. This includes Kruger, Dumervil, Bennett and Avril as well as guys like Freeney, Abraham and Osi.

It's fairly common ( and understandable to a degree) to have a "grass is greener " atitude about our FAs vs guys on other teams, but Spencer has proven over a number of years to be an exceptional player, particularly in run stopping. He has also been a threat in the pass rush. Even though his sack numbers only recently improved this past year, he did provide consistent pressure, which is more important than many think.

Now that I've finished my "In Defense of Spencer" sermon, I'd say that he's worth a 2nd rounder. Anything less than that, and it's not worth losing him.

I agree. That's why my original post said that.

 

[Idgit]

It is too late to find a replacement for him in 2013. The Cowboys are really thin at DE and you shouldn't count on a rookie starting.

I would just keep him on the Franchise tag and wait for next off-season to determine if they want to re-sign him. If they get a rookie DE that shows something this season, then it would be much easier to allow Spencer to leave next season. If not, then they have the contracts that were given to DEs this year as a reference to start negotiations next year.

If we don't need the cap space to sign a FA OL, then the smart thing to do is to wait until at least the season starts to see how the transition goes. Maybe they agree on the framework for an impact veteran DE and just let him play through September to try to decide if they want to pay for the expensive extension. Spencer's a borderline case in my book, because he's a good player, but he expects to get paid well and he is at an age where large extensions are usually a mistake.

Perhaps Crawford blows up in camp and gives us a nice early return on that 3rd round pick.

 

[jjktkk]

I don't want to trade Spencer, but I don't particularly want to extended him either. I'd be perfectly fine with letting him play out this year and then letting him walk in free agency. I don't understand the notion that you can't let him walk for "nothing". This isn't basketball or baseball where trades are much more common. The NFL is a different animal when it comes to trades. Not to mention the fact that I highly doubt the compensation pick we get from him signing elsewhere will be too far off from what we would receive in a trade now.

I like Spencer and he is a good player, but he's not great and he is definitely replaceable. 10 sacks and stout run defense from a 4-3 DE isn't exactly the hardest thing to come by. Let another team worry about signing him into his 30's and we can try to win now with him.

I beg to differ. They don't exactly grow on trees. DE/rush lbers are a premium position.

 

[Nightman]

It is too late to find a replacement for him in 2013. The Cowboys are really thin at DE and you shouldn't count on a rookie starting.

I would just keep him on the Franchise tag and wait for next off-season to determine if they want to re-sign him. If they get a rookie DE that shows something this season, then it would be much easier to allow Spencer to leave next season. If not, then they have the contracts that were given to DEs this year as a reference to start negotiations next year.

If, and it's a big if, we can get Spencer to sign a 5yr deal that is front loaded with bonus money and back loaded with salary, both sides could really benefit. Spencer could double his guaranteed money and Dallas could lock an edge rusher for 3-4 years. The 5-6m in cap savings this year can be rolled over to next year, practically eliminating his cap number next year. Year 3 he would have a decent cap number, but if he is still playing well, it can easily be re-done. By waiting until after the year, you get no cap savings and one less year for eating a portion of the signing bonus. All you get is a 10.6m cap hit.

 

[Verdict]

Personally, I don't really see a compelling reason to keep Spencer on a long term deal unless they think Ware may be more damaged goods than anyone realizes. I think having two undersized DE's doesn't make a lot of sense and will make us vulnerable to the run.

 

[Nation]

i dont understand the logic of him being so expensive, yet fetching such low round offers from you guys.

A big contract involves the allocation of important resources (salary cap space)

An early-round draft pick is a major resource as well (can get good to great players in the first and second rounds at very low contracts)

Usually a player has to be very special to use both those resources - major cap space and a major draft pick, which is why you almost never see players that are tagged eventually traded.

 

[tm1119]

I beg to differ. They don't exactly grow on trees. DE/rush lbers are a premium position.

Edge pass rushers that are going to get 10+ sacks every year and demand double teams are, I agree. Spencer hasn't been that guy so far, maybe he will be that as a 4-3 DE. I'm not willing to reward him with an extension right now banking on that he will become that though.