OK, Just a thought an an idea IMO Cousins. The issue with the Vikings is they have only $1mm in CAP space........... before signing rookies! My thoughts would be that Jenkins and Watson seem like locks but might not be. Let's assume they are.
Two moves that switch around a little CAP for us and pick up Rudolph would be to send the Vikings LaCosse as part of the trade. They would have a hole at TE. Rudolph split out wide a percentage of time. We did the same with Gronk. You don't have to keep him in tight. It gives us some flexibility with keeping 3 TE's.
I am sending La Cosse and a 7th to Minn. for Rudolph.
Now we have a huge WR room......and.....our DT depth is alarming sad with basically Pennel and Guy (Cowart was a DE but will convert? Can't count on him as he was an underachiever). Butler is more or less a 3rd down DT/DE or in the NASCAR package.
I still think that DT McCoy would be fabulous here but a CAP issue expecially if we have to one year Rudolph at $7mm. That gives up $3mm approx. left. How do we get the $13mm for McCoy (by the way, the next two years decrease on his contract)?
Bucs lost Humpries and did not really fill that WR need. They have a few JAGS and UDFA.Plus..........Now JPP is lost for the season basically.
I am sending DE Rivers and WR Dorsett to the Bucs for McCoy. Still only about $3mm CAP for those two + $1.2mm for LeCosse. If Stidham works, cutting Hoyer is $3mm.
McCoy is only 31. Will be 33 when his contract expires. I am upping him till 35 and redoing his contract. He has been relatively healthy (missed only 8 games since 2012). He had six sacks last year even in an off-year and is a 6 time Pro Bowler with a very high locker room rating. Hr has BB traits. Internal rush and pushes the pocket.
A shame to not see what Rivers can do but the JPP loss makes him a key figure. Winovich is perhaps an upgrade. Time will tell. Rivers is not a high profile guy for the Bucs but this isn't about that with them. It's CAP related. As far as WR, After Evans and Godwin the Bucs might not havce anyone better than Dorsett.
Those two moves can be done.
If we think that Rudolph is the main TE for the forseeable future at 30 years old, we do an extention and sign him now to cut that CAP #. Watson and Jenkins are 1 year rentals. Makes sense to give Rudolph perhaps 3 years.
I think we would have a pretty decent roster with those moves.
DW Toys
I LOVE your Rudolph deal. As I was reading it, I was thinking they'd need to add a low draft pick, and then you did. Perfect compensation.
The McCoy deal, which is definitely more tricky, I'd make some possible suggestions.
I'm not trading away the ONLY true speed threat currently on the roster. Next to Julian he is also the most experience WR in our offense. But that being said, your idea to to send a WR IS a good one. They have a need there. So instead of Dorsett, I'd send them DThomas. He has a low guarantee, and highest upside based on past performance. I think the Buc would like him.
Also I'm loath to give up on Rivers at this time. Outs side rushers, even with the addition of Winovich are a need for US too. Instead I'd offer the dreaded 5th round pick instead.
We are going to get a minimum of 4 comp picks this draft to go along with the 9 we were scheduled to have. If we give up 2 of those picks to get 2 key players we would still have 11 left including 5 in the first 100, so I don't mind losing the pick and keeping the player.
Remember the Bucs are on the verge of just releasing the guy. I don't think we need to fill BOTH their immediate needs to get this deal done. Christ, if I were the Buc's I'd be calling the Pats to demand your deal. The REAL issue is how to figure out how to get both of those salaries under the cap.
The answer is, we can't.....UNLESS we get a Brady extension or (as you suggested) McCoy agrees to a restructure before hand....or both.
One other note. The Rudolph situation in Minn. is going to resolve itself shortly. They NEED the cap space just to sign rookies. He's going to be gone. I suggested a CB in trade, but these days I guess you can't have too many CB's and I have no attachment to Lacosse. But the Vikings ARE going to get other offers or simply release him.
On the other hand, the McCoy matter doesn't HAVE to be done immediately. It can linger as long as late as early July before something will have to be done. By that time extensions, signings, releases, etc could change our cap situation dramatically.
BTW- thanks for the OP. The thought of having Rudolph and McCoy on this team is exciting.
In fact I think a combination of Rudolph and ASJ would actually be an upgrade at TE from last year. Gronk's regular season numbers last season are NOT a high bar for either one of those guys. And while Allen added to the offense with his blocking, its not like it was SO good he wasn't replaceable. I've read where BOTH ASJ and Rudolph are decent blockers, or at least neither sucks at it. Just a thought
