This has been discussed, but is certainly worth continuing to kick around...
01 ~ The reason why we'd consider trading Jones is obvious, yes? To recoup Value beyond a distant and uncertain 2018 or 2019 Compensation Pick, should we, as Fans and Theoretical General Managers, decide that retaining his Contract is either not viable or not in our Team's best interests.
02 ~ I don't believe that there's anyone who's more eager to trade Veterans for Picks than I ~ the Infernal Salary Cap forces difficult decisions constantly ~ but I for one would far prefer to retain Jones. He's not Godzilla, I grant you, but I believe that he's lived up to every ounce of his 1st Round Pedigree.
03 ~ I haven't sat down and did the Math, but my general understanding is that we can manage to retain his Services and those of Collins, HighTower, and Butler right through their Primes. Mind you: Thus doing would be a matter of Choice, and'd mean choosing not to retain the Services of others.
04 ~ And that's why trading Jones ~ though I'm not a proponent of doing so ~ is a perfectly reasonable Option: Because Jones's Services might carry Trade Value far beyond that of others.
05 ~ The question of course comes down to: Would the approximate difference between what we could get for'm now and what we could get for'm later justify losing his Services for 2016 and perhaps 2017??
06 ~ As for what that Trade Value might be? It's tricky, of course, due to my awkward financial circumstances: I haven't as yet managed to gather enough Scratch to purchase the Patriots from the Krafts ~ hence we have neither our original 2016 1st Rounder, nor the 1st overall Pick in compensation for the pilfered 2008 1st Rounder, and of course Goodel isn't rotting in Prison where he belongs.
07 ~ I would think ~ leaving Goodel's Rape of Kraft without even a CRA aside for the moment ~ that the unencumbered Market Value for Jones's Services on the Market right now would be best measured by comparing them with the Jared Allen Trade between the Vikings and Chiefs in 2008.
08 ~ Indeed, the Parallels are remarkable: Both Players are Dragons ~ about 6.5/265 ~ had 4 Years on'm, and had forged impressive Resumes as they approached their Primes. However, Allen had 43 Sacks to Jones's current 35, and had become a Star in 2007, erupting for 15.5 Sacks to lead the League.
09 ~ Interesting, though, that the Parallels continue to echo: As 2007 was Allen's BreakOut Year, so too was 2015 Jones's best statistical Year and his first Pro Bowl ~ and indeed he seemed on the way to a Monster Year half way in. Also in his Favor is his Draft Pedigree. Allen was a 4th Rounder.
10 ~ The Vikings gave up a 1st Rounder ~ #17 ~ and 2 3rd Rounders plus change for Jared Allen. But one Trade in 2008 does not set the Market. It only suggests what it might be.
11 ~ I'd put Jones's Value at about a late 1st Rounder and a 4th.
12 ~ Obviously, that's not happening unless there's shocking News on the DeflateGate Front.
Personally, I'd hold on to'm for now at the very least.
The way that this Defense is coming together, I believe that there is a distinct Possibility that he's about to launch a Career Year ~ 18 Sacks or something crazy like that ~ and that, should we choose to do so, we could get a King's Ransom for'is Services a Year from now as a Tag & Trade...just as with Jared Allen.
