Quote:
Originally Posted by O.city
I'm all about drafting and developing guys.
But everytime you make a move like this, you spin the wheel or risk. We hit last year, but trading away the best defensive player in the history of your franchise right in the middle of his prime (and the lynchpin of your defense) is a pretty big wheel spin.
|
Trading him just isn't about replacing him, not that you're saying that but it relates to this comment on "spinning the wheel of risk" and I want to elaborate.
I say this because I've seen the opinion frequently that if we trade Jones we won't be able to replace that impact. And to that I say, most likely not. At least not on the defensive line and at the defensive tackle spot specifically. It's akin to saying you can replace JJ Watt or you can replace Aaron Donald and so forth. You can't replace a guy that's probably going to wear a gold jacket.
John Randle was probably the greatest pass-rushing defensive tackle of the modern era. Only Alan Page has more sacks as a DT. Did the Vikings never have a good defensive tackle again? Well, Chris Hovan wasn't terrible, then a few years later they got some Kevin Williams guy and he was pretty okay I guess, considering he's right on the edge of being considered a HOF guy himself. Overall, they are one of the few teams in this league that repeatedly fields a strong defensive front.
There is life after HOFers. And trading a guy like Chris Jones could set this team up for better players at more positions. There will never be another Chris Jones, in all likelihood. But the Chiefs might get AP guys at couple of other positions and still get a really good DT.
Let's say the Lions did call and offer 6 and 18 for Jones. I think it's an overzealous assumption, but this is for the sake of pretend. Let's say you got DE Tyree Wilson at #6, OT Broderick Jones at #18, and umm DL Tuli Tuipulotu at #31 in those spots. Maybe not perfect science there but it's all pretends. You've got your LT of the future that can play RT this year, you have a stud DE prospect, and you've got a stud UT prospect. Maybe you end up with a different set of guys like Paris Johnson, Brian Bresee, and Derick Hall or something like that, but the point is the same.
That trade could have profound dividends on the overall roster and on the cap situation going forward. Something like that lets you spend money and keep other guys. Do you like the idea of keeping Thuney beyond this year? Do you like the idea of re-signing guys like Creed, Smith, and Bolton in the near future? This type of deal can set you up to do all of that and still field a really good football team.
Of course, it would take THAT type of deal to make the wheels go around so it's highly unlikely but if it's presented you almost have to strongly consider it.