Can Wilfork be traded?

[FredFromDartmouth]

I don't understand where all this cut business comes from.... This may be a stupid question, but doesn't it make a lot more sense to trade him if he wants out? Is his contract too high or old to trade him or is his injury too severe? If you cut him, you get nothing. If you trade him, I would think you could get a 2 or 3 at least.

 

[Simple Jack's Brother]

I've had the same thoughts as well. If they're going to cut him, why not try and trade him for a mid-round pick? In addition to getting a pick in return, wouldn't trading him also completely free the Pats of any financial obligations as related to the contract? For example, even if we cut him, don't we still owe some part of his salary that will count against the cap? Just throwing stuff out there, please correct me if i'm off-base.

 

[Patsrock]

Yes but what team is going to give up a 2nd or a 3rd for a guy coming off of that type of injury. And take on a $7.5M cap hit?

 

[Patsrock]

I've had the same thoughts as well. If they're going to cut him, why not try and trade him for a mid-round pick? In addition to getting a pick in return, wouldn't trading him also completely free the Pats of any financial obligations as related to the contract? For example, even if we cut him, don't we still owe some part of his salary that will count against the cap? Just throwing stuff out there, please correct me if i'm off-base.

trade or cut him it is still a $3.6M cap hit for the Pats

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think it's the Darrelle Revis situation in terms of the money. Nobody's willing to give a draft pick if they also have to pick up Wilfork's contract as is. He could probably find takers at the 4-5m range though.

 

[manxman2601]

Yes but what team is going to give up a 2nd or a 3rd for a guy coming off of that type of injury. And take on a $7.5M cap hit?

Romeo Crennel and the Texans need a NT. We wouldn't get a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him but as a makeweight in a Mallett trade perhaps? (Makes up a lot weight :drum: )

 

[Patjew]

I don't understand where all this cut business comes from.... This may be a stupid question, but doesn't it make a lot more sense to trade him if he wants out? Is his contract too high or old to trade him or is his injury too severe? If you cut him, you get nothing. If you trade him, I would think you could get a 2 or 3 at least.

Come on, Mike. Teams won't trade for him because of his contract and he very clearly does not want to renegotiate that. And anyway, who would trade for someone that may never be able to really play again?

Mike, mike, mike...

 

[Big-T]

trade or cut him it is still a $3.6M cap hit for the Pats

They save $8m by cutting/trading him...

 

[Sciz]

"Vince, we'd like to trade for you. Will you restructure your contract to facilitate a trade?"
"Nope"

And suddenly he has no value at all.

 

[JMC00]

Yes but what team is going to give up a 2nd or a 3rd for a guy coming off of that type of injury. And take on a $7.5M cap hit?

Or even give up anything now that he has asked for his release.

 

[Patsrock]

They save $8m by cutting/trading him...

Yep but that wasn't the question.

 

[mgteich]

Romeo need a healthy NT at a reasonable cost. We have a injured NT who will cost a draft choice plus $8M, and BTW, may or may not play again, or certainly not at anywhere near what one should expect for $8M.

BTW, how many defensive tackles in the league are worth a draft choice and $8M for just one year of service?

Romeo Crennel and the Texans need a NT. We wouldn't get a 2nd or 3rd rounder for him but as a makeweight in a Mallett trade perhaps? (Makes up a lot weight :drum: )

 

[manxman2601]

Romeo need a healthy NT at a reasonable cost. We have a injured NT who will cost a draft choice plus $8M, and BTW, may or may not play again, or certainly not at anywhere near what one should expect for $8M.

BTW, how many defensive tackles in the league are worth a draft choice and $8M for just one year of service?

Depends on the draft choice.

As for whether he'll play again, that's what doctors are for. Clearly if he's not going to play then they wouldn't trade for him. If they trade for him, then he's obviously been cleared to play (not sure why this needs to be spelled out).

Do I think it will happen? No. I was responding to a question about who would trade for Wilfork. I suggested Houston because of Romeo Crennel and because they have no NTs on the roster right now. If ever there was a fit, that's where it would be.

 

[PATS16N0]

Yes but what team is going to give up a 2nd or a 3rd for a guy coming off of that type of injury. And take on a $7.5M cap hit?

 

[Ring 6]

I don't understand where all this cut business comes from.... This may be a stupid question, but doesn't it make a lot more sense to trade him if he wants out? Is his contract too high or old to trade him or is his injury too severe? If you cut him, you get nothing. If you trade him, I would think you could get a 2 or 3 at least.

If we don't want to pay him 7.5mill for 1 year, why would anyone else?
Also, he would have to pass a physical to be traded.

 

[Franchise12]

With his injured Achilles, could Wilfork even pass a physical as a traded player or FA signing? If not, then It's seems that his only shot at security is here with the Patriots.

 

[SB39]

I don't understand where all this cut business comes from.... This may be a stupid question, but doesn't it make a lot more sense to trade him if he wants out? Is his contract too high or old to trade him or is his injury too severe? If you cut him, you get nothing. If you trade him, I would think you could get a 2 or 3 at least.

Nobody is going to trade for a player they know is about to be cut and nobody is going to trade for a player with such an unfavorable contract.

 

[SB39]

trade or cut him it is still a $3.6M cap hit for the Pats

The $3.6 million is a cap number "sunk cost". For all practical purposes, that number will hit the cap for Wilfork no matter what. The Patriots need to evaluate if they would rather have him this year for $7.5 or not. IMHO they've already determined that they will not keep him here at that number. A restructure is certainly not out of the question however.

 

[Gwedd]

If we don't want to pay him 7.5mill for 1 year, why would anyone else?
Also, he would have to pass a physical to be traded.

This.

It has nothing to do with what his doctors say, and everything to do with what the interested team's doctors have to say.

My personal belief is that New England will honor his request to be released. Coming off of that injury, there's no way he's worth that kind of money. It sounds cold, because Big Vince has been the model player for his team, giving them 10 good year's of effort. But in the end, it's still a business. It ain't personal, just business.

Besides, releasing him from his contract would also be a sign of respect, something to let him know how much the team values his time here. Releasing him is also a way for him to have his respect, and then also let him come back and resign at a later date, if he wants it and the team feels it still can use him.

For Vince Wilfork, it isn't so much about the money, as about respect.

V/R

 

[Patsrock]

The $3.6 million is a cap number "sunk cost". For all practical purposes, that number will hit the cap for Wilfork no matter what. The Patriots need to evaluate if they would rather have him this year for $7.5 or not. IMHO they've already determined that they will not keep him here at that number. A restructure is certainly not out of the question however.

I am just wondering to people here actually read the question I was responding too?

The poster asked if trading him would get the Pats out of contract obligations. I responded either cutting him or trading him Pats still have a charge of 3.6M on the cap.