NFL Trade Deadline Discourse

[imahobgoblin]

Ok so we might have to give up a 4th for Breece Hall. But it's probably worth it considering he's a proven guy and that's cheaper than the early 2nd we spent on Henderson.

If it really is a 4th, we would be idiotic to pass.

 

[ViperGTS]

If it really is a 4th, we would be idiotic to pass.

I agree. I am all over that.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

You really need to start taking unit cost into your considerations. Diggs is making good money, and Boutte is going to get a good payday, adding another 28 million payday to that unit would leave them hamstrung when they go to build up their offensive line and defense next offseason. Do they have the money to pay Waddle, yes, but what good is that when they turn into the Bengals because they are paying WR's so much that they don't have the money for OL and the defense?

I think you're exaggerating the impact of Waddle's contract. If we traded for him, the rest of this year is pretty irrelevant financially as we only take on the remaining portion of his $1.17M salary.

For next year (2026), we'd take on his $1.215M salary, $510K per game roster bonuses, $100K offseason workout bonus, and have to pay him a $15.416M option bonus. That option bonus would be spread out on the cap from 2026-3030 so it only counts just a but over $3M on the cap in 2026. His total cap number for 2026 would be under $5M. In 2027 you'd have Waddle's $23.4M salary $510K in per game roster bonuses, $100K workout bonus and another $3M of that option bonus proration, so it's a huge cap number. In 2028 it's same basic cap hits except salary jumps to $25.8M.

It's pretty easy to make that work around Boutte extension and Diggs. You extend Boutte this offseason and pay him a signing bonus. The proration of that into 2026 cap is likely insignificant and so is Waddle's cap hit. So 2026 not an issue. 2027 you structure it so rather than a salary that counts on the cap all that year you pay Boutte a roster bonus that you can amortize over the deal, so his 2027 cap hit stays pretty low to balance Waddle's. Then in 2028 when both of them have high cap hits... Diggs contract is off the books anyway.

So it's really just 2027 that yo get a little heavy on the investment at WR but it's offset by Maye still on rookie deal anyway.

 

[Ring 6]

I think you're exaggerating the impact of Waddle's contract. If we traded for him, the rest of this year is pretty irrelevant financially as we only take on the remaining portion of his $1.17M salary.

For next year (2026), we'd take on his $1.215M salary, $510K per game roster bonuses, $100K offseason workout bonus, and have to pay him a $15.416M option bonus. That option bonus would be spread out on the cap from 2026-3030 so it only counts just a but over $3M on the cap in 2026. His total cap number for 2026 would be under $5M. In 2027 you'd have Waddle's $23.4M salary $510K in per game roster bonuses, $100K workout bonus and another $3M of that option bonus proration, so it's a huge cap number. In 2028 it's same basic cap hits except salary jumps to $25.8M.

It's pretty easy to make that work around Boutte extension and Diggs. You extend Boutte this offseason and pay him a signing bonus. The proration of that into 2026 cap is likely insignificant and so is Waddle's cap hit. So 2026 not an issue. 2027 you structure it so rather than a salary that counts on the cap all that year you pay Boutte a roster bonus that you can amortize over the deal, so his 2027 cap hit stays pretty low to balance Waddle's. Then in 2028 when both of them have high cap hits... Diggs contract is off the books anyway.

So it's really just 2027 that yo get a little heavy on the investment at WR but it's offset by Maye still on rookie deal anyway.

Why would you replace Boutte and then resign him?

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm looking for a DE and an OG.
I said that Wilson isn't the answer at LG in the GDT. Over the last 3 weeks, he's allowed 4 sacks, 1 QB hit and 3 hurries in 113 Passing snaps. That's 1 pressure every 14 snaps. On the year, he's giving up 1 pressure every 15 snaps. We were complaining last year about tackles giving up pressures on ever 15 snaps in Lowe. Same holds for Wilson at guard.


NOTE: For reference purposes, Michael Jordan, who people couldn't run out of town fast enough last year and whom people were cheering when the team cut him, gave up 1 pressure every 19 passing snaps.

 

[jdlboot14]

I bet we have a trade tomorrow. I'm expecting to be surprised, but hope it's an EDGE.
And then some type of offensive skill position.

 

[mgteich]

Easy to say that after Boutte went out with injury.

we started the season with 4 WR's. Many here only liked 3 and wanted the 4th cut.

And the reason for wanting a 5th WR was EXACTLY because sometimes a WR is injured or fails to produce. Many were sure that WIlliams or Chism was the answer.

But you're right. The injury to Boutte highlights the value of another WR.

 

[Mack Herron]

nearly every position could be upgraded to a shiny new starter, but if we look at need I want RB, OG, or Edge.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Why would you replace Boutte and then resign him?

I wasn't really looking at him as a Boutte replacement. He'd be an addition to give us a legitimate 3WR offense with Boutte/Diggs. So he'd be "replacing" Douglas/Williams/Hollins more so than Boutte. Obviously cuts into Boutte's playing time and target share of course, but wouldn't call that replacing him.

Diggs at his age I'm not counting on being here past his 3 year deal and honestly it wouldn't shock me if he doesn't see the third year of it either.

I was looking at it as Waddle and Boutte as your go-forward receivers and Diggs you just benefit from with the extra money you get to play with while Maye is on his rookie deal.

Moot point though because I don’t think MIA moves Waddle. And the larger response was talking about the financials of paying Waddle/Diggs/Boutte and how I don’t think that would be too much money at receiver when you break the deals down.

 

[Betterthanmost]

We need a pass rusher badly.

 

[Ring 6]

I wasn't really looking at him as a Boutte replacement. He'd be an addition to give us a legitimate 3WR offense with Boutte/Diggs. So he'd be "replacing" Douglas/Williams/Hollins more so than Boutte. Obviously cuts into Boutte's playing time and target share of course, but wouldn't call that replacing him.

Diggs at his age I'm not counting on being here past his 3 year deal and honestly it wouldn't shock me if he doesn't see the third year of it either.

I was looking at it as Waddle and Boutte as your go-forward receivers and Diggs you just benefit from with the extra money you get to play with while Maye is on his rookie deal.

Moot point though because I don’t think MIA moves Waddle. And the larger response was talking about the financials of paying Waddle/Diggs/Boutte and how I don’t think that would be too much money at receiver when you break the deals down.

We use 2.38 WRs per play. Diggs will be playing more as he continues to get stronger.
We have a lot more issues
But if you bring in Waddle, Boutte isn’t resigning here.

 

[Ring 6]

nearly every position could be upgraded to a shiny new starter, but if we look at need I want RB, OG, or Edge.

I’m fine with our RBs. They get at least what the OL blocks to and many times more, and are excellent in the passing game.

OL CB and S depth is what worries me.

 

[TommyD4207]

We use 2.38 WRs per play. Diggs will be playing more as he continues to get stronger.
We have a lot more issues
But if you bring in Waddle, Boutte isn’t resigning here.

This is an excellent point, one I hadn't even thought of.

 

[BadMoFo]

We use 2.38 WRs per play. Diggs will be playing more as he continues to get stronger.
We have a lot more issues
But if you bring in Waddle, Boutte isn’t resigning here.

Yup. People think that signing someone like waddle automatically means he’ll be a 100 yard receiver every game. He may go some games without a catch. Thats how it works in our offense. I like what we have in the receiver room. I’d rather upgrade on defense.

 

[imahobgoblin]

This is an excellent point, one I hadn't even thought of.

Why? If Waddle signs, Diggs is gone before his contract ends, not Boutte.

 

[Vindicate]

We'll give em Pop Douglas for Good measures a poor man's Tyreek Hil.

God no.

 

[Ring 6]

Yup. People think that signing someone like waddle automatically means he’ll be a 100 yard receiver every game. He may go some games without a catch. Thats how it works in our offense. I like what we have in the receiver room. I’d rather upgrade on defense.

And it’s not an additive 100. It’s coming from someone else. We are completing 75% of our passes for over 9 ypa. Waddle doesn’t change that to 85% and there is no evidence Waddles catches would be more productive than the catches our receivers are currently making

 

[Zuma]

1. OT depth
2. Coverage LB
3. OG depth

FIFY

 

[The Gr8est]

That team just can't catch a break..

Makes it more likely Keion White is active enough to get our 7th round pick back.

 

[VrabelJr]

We need a big CB. 7’5” at least. We’re not addressing the OL in any meaningful way at the trade deadline.