Attyla the Hawk
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Saw this article: https://www.fieldgulls.com/2017/8/30/16 ... hawks-jets
Have been keenly interested in this trade since it was first hinted that we were pursuing it early in the offseason. And this article lays out some of the reasons why both teams would be motivated.
However it was completely devoid of any actual details of how such a deal might be possible. So I figured I'd do a bit of rosterbation to outline how this deal could be consummated.
This deal is possible. Not in a 'trade Kearse for Richardson and a first round pick' kind of way either. I'll outline below the barriers to the deal each separately.
1. Motivation
Both teams are equally motivated to make a move. The Jets want cap relief and value. Seattle needs an interior pass rusher for a championship run. There is no lack of motivation for either party in this deal.
2. Cap space
Seattle is currently sitting on 8M in available cap space. Of which, 5M is necessary for IR/PS concerns throughout the season. That leaves 3M in available 'true' cap space.
NY is 20M under the cap. They'd like to get that even lower for next years' rebuild. They are currently shopping Richardson and Matt Forte in an effort to get lower. Richardson's contract is uniquely valuable to jettison as there is no dead money attached. It'd boost their cap deficit to 28M.
Seattle needs about 5M in cap relief in order to pull the trigger on this deal. Outside of Jimmy Graham (who they won't/shouldn't let go to make this deal), no one player can realistically deliver this relief.
I'll assume that no existing player opts to restructure a deal. One, it's not really likely and two, Seattle doesn't do those kinds of kick the can deals.
3. Roster slots
Seattle already has 9 DL pretty much locked in as viable and quality players. If we add Richardson as a DT, then we'd basically be removing one of our existing DTs to make room.
Seattle also is deep in the following position groups. So deep that we're going to cut guys who in any other year would merit making this roster. Guys that almost assuredly will not reach the practice squad. Those groups are:
RB
WR
CB
If Seattle is going to shed cap space, it'll be best to come from these groups. We won't be sacrificing so much quality in talent.
4. Devil in the details
Seattle has to drop one DT, and enough players from those three groups to recoup 5M in cap space. Here's how I'd see it going down.
Trade:
NY wants cap space. They want draft picks. It'll take a 2018 third round pick to satisfy the draft pick need. The cap space is immaterial. Since any player they get (so long as it's before cutdown day), they can simply cut and be free and clear of that salary. All guaranteed money already exists and remains on Seattle's books.
Seattle trades 2018 3rd round pick and combination of Eddie Lacy and/or Jeremy Lane for Sheldon Richardson.
Lacy (2M)
Lane (1.5M)
Seattle isn't done though as that's not enough salary trimmed. Still need at least 2m and probably upwards of 4M to be straight with the cap.
Seattle cut candidates:
Rubin (2M)
Rubin satisfies the roster problem for Seattle (DT for DT roster switch). Cutting Rubin provided 2M in cap relief for Seattle. He's the only DT other than Michael Bennett who provides relief. And Rubin provides double the relief of Bennett. Plus Richardson and Rubin play the exact same position.
Kearse (2.2M)
Kearse is a fan maligned player who seems to enjoy a better opinion from his bosses. Of the WR group, Kearse is the only one other than Baldwin who can provide any cap savings. And we are not letting Baldwin go.
That gets us 7.5M under the cap. Plenty enough savings to make this deal. Could do it with just 3 of these but we'd be right up against the cap there.
At first blush, it seems a stupid steep price for Seattle.
Give up:
2018 3rd
Ahtyba Rubin
Eddie Lacy
Jeremy Lane
Jermaine Kearse
for
Sheldon Richardson
But if you consider the guys on the roster bubble you can now retain that looks a bit different:
Sheldon Richardson
Pierre Desir/Nieko Thorpe
Amara Darboh/Tanner McEvoy
Alex Collins
Those other guys aren't spectacular. But guys that would (and in most cases did) make our roster and contributed.
Seattle would have to be comfortable going with Rawls/Carson with Collins as the 3rd string. They'd also end up leaning on Brock/Griffin for heavy roles with the loss of Lane.
It's also not out of the realm of possibility that NY elects to jettison Lane or Lacy (or both). Meaning if they cleared waivers which at their salary should almost be expected -- Seattle could be in the mix to resign them not unlike we've done with a lot of our players we've let test the open market.
Seattle has good depth to absorb the loss of Lacy and Kearse. A bit less so for Lane. And a pretty forgiving first 5 weeks of the season to get guys performing better before the meat of the schedule.
Have been keenly interested in this trade since it was first hinted that we were pursuing it early in the offseason. And this article lays out some of the reasons why both teams would be motivated.
However it was completely devoid of any actual details of how such a deal might be possible. So I figured I'd do a bit of rosterbation to outline how this deal could be consummated.
This deal is possible. Not in a 'trade Kearse for Richardson and a first round pick' kind of way either. I'll outline below the barriers to the deal each separately.
1. Motivation
Both teams are equally motivated to make a move. The Jets want cap relief and value. Seattle needs an interior pass rusher for a championship run. There is no lack of motivation for either party in this deal.
2. Cap space
Seattle is currently sitting on 8M in available cap space. Of which, 5M is necessary for IR/PS concerns throughout the season. That leaves 3M in available 'true' cap space.
NY is 20M under the cap. They'd like to get that even lower for next years' rebuild. They are currently shopping Richardson and Matt Forte in an effort to get lower. Richardson's contract is uniquely valuable to jettison as there is no dead money attached. It'd boost their cap deficit to 28M.
Seattle needs about 5M in cap relief in order to pull the trigger on this deal. Outside of Jimmy Graham (who they won't/shouldn't let go to make this deal), no one player can realistically deliver this relief.
I'll assume that no existing player opts to restructure a deal. One, it's not really likely and two, Seattle doesn't do those kinds of kick the can deals.
3. Roster slots
Seattle already has 9 DL pretty much locked in as viable and quality players. If we add Richardson as a DT, then we'd basically be removing one of our existing DTs to make room.
Seattle also is deep in the following position groups. So deep that we're going to cut guys who in any other year would merit making this roster. Guys that almost assuredly will not reach the practice squad. Those groups are:
RB
WR
CB
If Seattle is going to shed cap space, it'll be best to come from these groups. We won't be sacrificing so much quality in talent.
4. Devil in the details
Seattle has to drop one DT, and enough players from those three groups to recoup 5M in cap space. Here's how I'd see it going down.
Trade:
NY wants cap space. They want draft picks. It'll take a 2018 third round pick to satisfy the draft pick need. The cap space is immaterial. Since any player they get (so long as it's before cutdown day), they can simply cut and be free and clear of that salary. All guaranteed money already exists and remains on Seattle's books.
Seattle trades 2018 3rd round pick and combination of Eddie Lacy and/or Jeremy Lane for Sheldon Richardson.
Lacy (2M)
Lane (1.5M)
Seattle isn't done though as that's not enough salary trimmed. Still need at least 2m and probably upwards of 4M to be straight with the cap.
Seattle cut candidates:
Rubin (2M)
Rubin satisfies the roster problem for Seattle (DT for DT roster switch). Cutting Rubin provided 2M in cap relief for Seattle. He's the only DT other than Michael Bennett who provides relief. And Rubin provides double the relief of Bennett. Plus Richardson and Rubin play the exact same position.
Kearse (2.2M)
Kearse is a fan maligned player who seems to enjoy a better opinion from his bosses. Of the WR group, Kearse is the only one other than Baldwin who can provide any cap savings. And we are not letting Baldwin go.
That gets us 7.5M under the cap. Plenty enough savings to make this deal. Could do it with just 3 of these but we'd be right up against the cap there.
At first blush, it seems a stupid steep price for Seattle.
Give up:
2018 3rd
Ahtyba Rubin
Eddie Lacy
Jeremy Lane
Jermaine Kearse
for
Sheldon Richardson
But if you consider the guys on the roster bubble you can now retain that looks a bit different:
Sheldon Richardson
Pierre Desir/Nieko Thorpe
Amara Darboh/Tanner McEvoy
Alex Collins
Those other guys aren't spectacular. But guys that would (and in most cases did) make our roster and contributed.
Seattle would have to be comfortable going with Rawls/Carson with Collins as the 3rd string. They'd also end up leaning on Brock/Griffin for heavy roles with the loss of Lane.
It's also not out of the realm of possibility that NY elects to jettison Lane or Lacy (or both). Meaning if they cleared waivers which at their salary should almost be expected -- Seattle could be in the mix to resign them not unlike we've done with a lot of our players we've let test the open market.
Seattle has good depth to absorb the loss of Lacy and Kearse. A bit less so for Lane. And a pretty forgiving first 5 weeks of the season to get guys performing better before the meat of the schedule.
