Are Our Top 25 2024 Cap Hits Almost All Locks (all except Schuster?

[mgteich]

OK, I've looked at out top 25 cap hits. Strange will on PUP or IR). Schuster should be the veteran cut. And, then there were 23.
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In addition, we have the kids, 2023 and 2024 draftees. Only Maye is in the top 25.

I think that we indeed have our "core" to build upon in 2025 and beyond. Obviously, we will have the resources to add a top WR and a top OT in 2025.

 

[Mike the Brit]

"Schuster should be the veteran cut." Please explain.

Bad decision to sign him? Sure. But that isn't a reason to cut him. His cap hit is $10.2m, but his dead money, if cut, is $9.6m, so $647,000, is all that you would save.

 

[Wozzy]

"Schuster should be the veteran cut." Please explain.

Bad decision to sign him? Sure. But that isn't a reason to cut him. His cap hit is $10.2m, but his dead money, if cut, is $9.6m, so $647,000, is all that you would save.

Agreed, and moreover next season you can let him go for almost nothing.

This makes him easy to trade now or keep until next season. He can fetch something in trade from a WR needy team that suffered injuries in preseason and/or has a history with said player.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed, and moreover next season you can let him go for almost nothing.

This makes him easy to trade now or keep until next season. He can fetch something in trade from a WR needy team that suffered injuries in preseason and/or has a history with said player.

Sure, keep until the final cuts to see if there is a trade.

There is zero reason for him to occupy a roster spot for 2024. Let Osborn, Bourne and the kids play.

 

[Wozzy]

Sure, keep until the final cuts to see if there is a trade.

There is zero reason for him to occupy a roster spot for 2024. Let Osborn, Bourne and the kids play.

He might be fully rehabbed from his knee and the best WR they have.

We'll have to wait and see how camp shakes out.

 

[mgteich]

He might be fully rehabbed from his knee and the best WR they have.

We'll have to wait and see how camp shakes out.

And if he is the best that we have, should we trade him or play him and sit Polk or Osborn? Douglas? Should we just cut Bourne?

To be very clear, I don't think that Shuster is part of the future. If I'm wrong, OK. I don't see it. Surely, the future should be the 3 kids plus our #1 to be signed next year. For now, we have Osborn and Bourne in addition to the three kids (Douglas, Polk and Baker).

It is NOT important to see what camp brings. It IS IMPORTANT to see what the season brings. We need to develop Douglas, Polk and Baker.
Even then, we will have Bourne and Osborn getting many of the reps.

Looking to 2025 and 2026, it is a step backward to fail to move Schuster unless you think that he is our #1 now and for 2025. If so, you are better to extend him.

 

[Wozzy]

And if he is the best that we have, should we trade him or play him and sit Polk or Osborn? Douglas? Should we just cut Bourne?

See who emerges from camp/preseason healthy and productive. Competition will sort it out.

To be very clear, I don't think that Shuster is part of the future. If I'm wrong, OK. I don't see it. Surely, the future should be the 3 kids plus our #1 to be signed next year. For now, we have Osborn and Bourne in addition to the three kids (Douglas, Polk and Baker).

Juju has one season (this one) left with any substantial guaranteed dollars. For all the whining and hand wringing about his signing, he was signed for what amounts to a 2 year deal… and this is year two.

Next offseason they can cut him outright for next to no cap hit. This means he can easily be kept or traded this season. His contract is team friendly, I don’t see the problem. If they need him he’s available, if they have a logjam at the position they can trade him. Easy…

It is NOT important to see what camp brings. It IS IMPORTANT to see what the season brings. We need to develop Douglas, Polk and Baker.
Even then, we will have Bourne and Osborn getting many of the reps.

You don’t know who will get injured this preseason, you can’t predict injury. You also can’t ensure us these rookie WR’s will work out, or Bourne will be ready to go in week one or will stay healthy. There is absolutely no need to panic or rush to make a move now.

Looking to 2025 and 2026, it is a step backward to fail to move Schuster unless you think that he is our #1 now and for 2025. If so, you are better to extend him.

His contract ends after this season… Juju is not an issue at all.

 

[rkarp1]

if the current WR room comes out of August healthy, I see no way JuJu makes the roster.
Pop, Baker, Polk are locks
Bourne and Osborne are near locks
Reagor, TT and JuJu left to battle for 1 spot, maybe no spots if the team keeps 5.

 

[mgteich]

You don’t know who will get injured this preseason, you can’t predict injury. You also can’t ensure us these rookie WR’s will work out, or Bourne will be ready to go in week one or will stay healthy. There is absolutely no need to panic or rush to make a move now.

No one is panicking. IMO, we should trade Schuster ONLY if 4 of Osborne, Douglas, Polk, Baker and Bourne are healthy enough to Play Game.

It is not a matter of cap money. The issue is that there are better uses of a roster spot and we have PLENTY of WR's that we want to be part of the future.

I expect someone to give us a 6th and even then we will pay most of his 2014 salary. If we cut him, it cost us $2M of cap money. If someone takes him and our agreement is that they pay MORE than $2m, there is actual cap savings.
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As an aside, FOR ME, the alternative is to trade Osborn who we never would have signed if we expected Schuster to be one of our top 3 WR's this year.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Bob may draw the line on money he’s paying out this season for people not here (BB) and they may keep Schuster for one more season.

Bourne on the other hand, has a way more favorable cap hit if released. Giving him 3 more years when his production was declining was idiotic. His signing was the difference in acquiring Ridley - very bad move. I do think one of these veterans of Bourne, Schuster or Osborne will be cut - they are redundant.

Strange may stay until his contract is up, but his option will certainly be declined.

 

[mgteich]

Bob may draw the line on money he’s paying out this season for people not here (BB) and they may keep Schuster for one more season.

Bourne on the other hand, has a way more favorable cap hit if released. Giving him 3 more years when his production was declining was idiotic. His signing was the difference in acquiring Ridley - very bad move. I do think one of these veterans of Bourne, Schuster or Osborne will be cut - they are redundant.

Strange may stay until his contract is up, but his option will certainly be declined.

To be clear, you want to cut Bourne and eat the $4M bonus and guaranteed salary?

 

[TheRainMaker]

To be clear, you want to cut Bourne and eat the $4M bonus and guaranteed salary?

Looks like he’s already been paid $5.5 million at signing, so him getting cut seems unlikely for this season. This was a bad signing.

 

[mgteich]

Looks like he’s already been paid $5.5 million at signing, so him getting cut seems unlikely for this season. This was a bad signing.

I tend to agree.

Of course, I think that the signing was to have at least one veteran leader in the WR group. I guess the team simply didn't want to count on Schuster.

 

[Wozzy]

No one is panicking. IMO, we should trade Schuster ONLY if 4 of Osborne, Douglas, Polk, Baker and Bourne are healthy enough to Play Game.

It is not a matter of cap money. The issue is that there are better uses of a roster spot and we have PLENTY of WR's that we want to be part of the future.

You're assuming Polk and Baker are good players, what if they suck? I'm not saying they will, only you can't assume anything.

Money always plays a factor, if the Pat's think they can get the same production from someone else and there are too many good healthy (cheap) WR's by the end of preseason someone will get traded... probably Juju. Age, contact, trade value... he looks like the logical answer.

I expect someone to give us a 6th and even then we will pay most of his 2014 salary. If we cut him, it cost us $2M of cap money. If someone takes him and our agreement is that they pay MORE than $2m, there is actual cap savings.
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As an aside, FOR ME, the alternative is to trade Osborn who we never would have signed if we expected Schuster to be one of our top 3 WR's this year.

If they cut Juju this season it will cost them $12,266,667, if they wait until next year it only costs $2,633,334. Unless he just can't play anymore, it makes no sense to cut him. Trading him is the answer.

The return will be dependent on some other team's level of desperation to add to their WR room. If KC finds out Rashee Rice is suspended to start the season, if they suffer some more injuries at the position in preseason a reunion with Juju is looking pretty good. For the Pats trading Juju would be entirely about someone else taking on his contract, it's an easy contract to absorb.

At the end of the day you wait until camp and preseason ends because you want good competition in camp and you want to see how the depth chart shakes out. There's no reason to rush to trade him, most teams have their rosters set for now.