An interesting case study: the Falcons

[RunKC]

They are representing a way we could go in the future when Mahomes gets paid:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Falcons</a> gave the following players extensions since 2017:<br><br>QB Matt Ryan: 5-years, $150M<br><br>OT Jake Matthews: 5-yrs, $75M<br><br>DT Grady Jarrett: 4-yrs, $68M<br><br>CB Desmond Trufant: 5-years, $68M<br><br>LB Deion Jones: 4-years, $57M<br><br>RB Devonta Freeman: 5-years, $41M</p>&mdash; Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1151621208309452801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They are using up that cap. They will also be paying Julio Jones in the next few weeks, if not sooner (Julio said Arthur Blank promised him he’d get paid).

So is this the way we need to move forward when Mahomes gets paid? I know some people will say “Belichick wouldn’t do this shit and that’s why they suck”, but the Falcons should have won a Super Bowl if not for our coaching stupidity.
I would also point to the Steelers using this model for years and going to the Super Bowl 3X.

So are you in favor of this strategy in the coming years once Mahomes gets paid?

[O.city]

Well...yeah.

They should continue to pay and keep their good players while they're in their prime.

[staylor26]

Yes aside from paying big money to a RB this is the approach I would take.

[Mecca]

You should keep your good players but it's also smart to know when to walk away.

[RunKC]

IF Kendall Fuller and Daron Lee ball out this year, I want Veach to pay to keep them both.

Tyreek, Mahomes, Jones, Fuller and Lee. Hopefully all these guys are great building blocks for the future.

[Mecca]

Like using them as an example...

They can't walk on Ryan, they aren't going to get better there so that makes sense.
For a younger end LT the Matthews contract isn't horrible and honestly again, you aren't walking on your 1st round LT unless he's total balls.

The 2 on there I would question are Freeman and Jones mainly because those positions are usually easy to fill with cheaper players.

I sit in the middle on Jarrett and Trufant, good players but they are replaceable but at the same time, they're the best defenders on the team.

[staylor26]

Like using them as an example...

They can't walk on Ryan, they aren't going to get better there so that makes sense.
For a younger end LT the Matthews contract isn't horrible and honestly again, you aren't walking on your 1st round LT unless he's total balls.

The 2 on there I would question are Freeman and Jones mainly because those positions are usually easy to fill with cheaper players.

I sit in the middle on Jarrett and Trufant, good players but they are replaceable but at the same time, they're the best defenders on the team.

I couldn’t disagree more with this part. LB’s like Jones are extremely rare and you have to keep a guy like that.

[Mecca]

I couldn’t disagree more with this part. LB’s like Jones are extremely rare and you have to keep a guy like that.

I'm just saying generally in the 4-3, LB is where you can save some money.

[RunKC]

I couldn’t disagree more with this part. LB’s like Jones are extremely rare and you have to keep a guy like that.

I feel this way about Darron Lee. It’s rare to see a LB run in the 4.4’s and show elite coverage skills. That’s exactly what teams are looking for in this new league.

Look at the Steelers. Shazier was that guy and once he got crippled, the Steelers D collapsed. That’s why they traded up for Devin Bush.

I’m so pumped to see Lee in Spags system. I think he’s gonna be really good.

[Mecca]

I feel this way about Darron Lee. It’s rare to see a LB run in the 4.4’s and show elite coverage skills. That’s exactly what teams are looking for in this new league.

Look at the Steelers. Shazier was that guy and once he got crippled, the Steelers D collapsed. That’s why they traded up for Devin Bush.

I’m so pumped to see Lee in Spags system. I think he’s gonna be really good.

Well hopefully in training camp they'll quickly learn that Reggie Ragland isn't a starter.

[New World Order]

I feel this way about Darron Lee. It’s rare to see a LB run in the 4.4’s and show elite coverage skills. That’s exactly what teams are looking for in this new league.

Look at the Steelers. Shazier was that guy and once he got crippled, the Steelers D collapsed. That’s why they traded up for Devin Bush.

I’m so pumped to see Lee in Spags system. I think he’s gonna be really good.

Middle of the field was our biggest weakness last season. Now, we have 3 good coverage defenders (Badger, Thornhill, Lee) in the middle.

As long as we can pursue and tackle backs catching the ball in the flat this defense will be pretty solid

[O.city]

I couldn’t disagree more with this part. LB’s like Jones are extremely rare and you have to keep a guy like that.

I agree if it's a dude like Kuechly or Wagner.

I'm not sure on Jones yet, but he's definitely a good player.

[staylor26]

I agree if it's a dude like Kuechly or Wagner.

I'm not sure on Jones yet, but he's definitely a good player.

I was speaking more about his skill set and upside. He’s not quite at that level yet, but he’s really fucking good and fast. He’s making slightly more than Anthony Barr and Kwon Alexander. Not too bad considering he’s way better than those two.

[Discuss Thrower]

Yes aside from paying big money to a RB this is the approach I would take.

This

[RunKC]

Yeah I’m gonna call bulshit on this “we can’t keep everyone” narrative. Here’s a team doing this very thing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcons, WR Julio Jones finalizing three-year extension worth roughly $66M, making him the league&#39;s highest-paid WR. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomPelissero</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RapSheet</a>) <a href="https://t.co/1TIQQMMB9g">pic.twitter.com/1TIQQMMB9g</a></p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1170353098163965952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Even I didn’t think it was possible, but the Falcons are doing it with a mega QB contract. If they can, so can we