why the Dolphins & Jets might begin a new tag-&-trade trend ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

-- It's rather rare for players to be franchised as a means not to a new long-term deal with his club, but as a conduit to being shopped around the league via trade. But that perception could change in a few weeks if the remote becomes real.

The Dolphins, who have barely talked to the agent for emerging pass rusher Olivier Vernon and have made no progress toward a multi-year deal, realize that Vernon will be coveted if he hits the open market. And while Miami doesn't seem to value him to the degree these other teams might, they also need to protect their interests. Letting him simply walk out the door makes no sense.Thus, according to several league sources, the Dolphins will consider the possibility of dealing Vernon after franchising him, even if it seems a longshot. Given the lack of pass-rushing options available to other teams, and Vernon's age (he just turned 25 in October) and production (his breakthrough 2013 season with 11.5 sacks was plenty to keep teams' attention), and the fact the other top defensive free agents will be getting tagged as well (Von Miller, Muhammad Wilkerson, etc.), they just might be able to find decent value via trade.

Teams are generally loathe to part with high picks and then also pay big money to land a player, but in the end if the Dolphins manage to get more than what they would if Vernon hit the open market (likely a compensatory pick at the end of the third round in 2017), you could probably call it a wash if not a win. The Dolphins continue to work hard to try to get their veteran pass rusher, Cameron Wake, signed to a restructured deal that would lower his cap number and add years to his contract, and doing so will allow them to try to handle the big cap charge Vernon will carry while he is with the team on the tag ($15 million). They already have a ton of money tied up in their defensive line, given the record-setting contract they signed with Ndamukong Suh a year ago, and with them somewhat hesitant to engage in any real contract talks with Vernon, the tag-and-trade scenario is one that they intend to pursue.

The Jets could very well consider the same thing with Wilkerson, for many of the same reasons. They have barely spoken to his agent since contract talks broke off last year. The sides have never been anywhere close on a long-term deal, and the Jets might not value Wilkerson the way others in the NFL would. Numerous NFL execs have told me they believe Wilkerson is plenty worthy of the deal Marcell Dareus signed with the Bills at the start of the season (with a massive $25 million signing bonus and roughly $60 million guaranteed for injury). With the salary cap surging and several teams literally needing to spend big money just to get the minimum-spending floor in this new CBA, there is no doubt Wilkerson would crush it on the open market, as he is highly productive, able to fill a role similar to J.J. Watt and turning just 26 in October.But the Jets drafted his potential replacement, Leonard Williams, at the top of last year's draft, and as many headaches as Sheldon Richardson causes, he can be a game-changer as well, one who's going to want big bucks soon enough. Carrying him all year at a $16 million cap charge will make addressing other needs much more difficult (they still don't have a quarterback, though there is every expectation Ryan Fitzpatrick re-signs there). If the Jets can't value Wilkerson the way other clubs could, then a tag-and-trade could end up making a ton of sense for them as well, with teams like the Raiders, Giants, and Jags likely among those willing to listen.

Sound familiar  ?  It's a scenario not all that unlike the one in Miami.

Again, completing these kinds of moves in a league as mired in groupthink and "tradition" as the NFL won't be easy. Then again, with the league flush with cap space, it just might be the perfect time to thoroughly explore these options.The league year opened with some blockbuster trades last March, and perhaps it will do so again in a few weeks.

>    www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25496966/why-the-dolphins-and-jets-might-begin-a-new-tag-and-trade-trend

[kelly]

1 minute ago, kelly said:

ooops 

 

[32EBoozer]

I don't believe I've ever seen such a young and attractive "wo-MAN" have so much time to scour the web for articles about football teams and players.

You need to get out more dude!

[kelly]

On 2/27/2016 at 2:17 PM, 32EBoozer said:

I don't believe I've ever seen such a young and attractive "wo-MAN" have so much time to scour the web for articles about football teams and players.

You need to get out more dude!

ya  think..

   

[32EBoozer]

59 minutes ago, kelly said:

ya  think..

   

Is this supposed to prove something?

[Larz]

10 -12 d-lineman might go in the first round this year.  I just don't see a trade happening for mo