(03-03-2022, 11:10 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: (03-03-2022, 09:00 AM)Mikey Wrote: See I'm fine if this is the direction they want to go. But if this is our direction, let's approach it as an attempt to get a longer deal inked instead of overpaying on a rental. If you want him, show it.
If they tag him and that's all, I don't say with much confidence that it changes our darft plans. It gives us wiggle room for sure, but if they see Neal, Ikem, or anyone else as a star tackle in the making, take him and keep building.
Why? I want Cam this year, because there is no better option, but I want him this year only. I don't care what it cost, it would only be a one year deal and we have tons of cap money. It's not like we can't afford it. It's not brain surgery here. Fix as many long term issues as we can, but some problems are gonna have to get a band-aid for now (Cam Robinson,) because the alternative is worse. Not every major problem is gonna get a long term fix this offseason.
(03-03-2022, 10:36 AM)Bullseye Wrote: This is the maddening thing about our prolonged losing.
It seems like no matter what direction we go with Cam, it's the wrong one.
Last year, we tagged him. Observers were shocked.
It would seem now that to sign him to a longer term deal, the money would have to be comparable. I can't see too many people applauding that, even if the money somehow comes in at lower than the franchise tag rate for this year.
If we simply tagged him again, we're putting a band aid on the position,and if we fail to sign him at all, all we do is perpetuate the "crime" of being unable to retain key contributors at key positions who are actually productive, and locking us into a position early in the draft, as opposed to being free to taking the BAP.
Is that such a bad thing though? Considering how many major needs this team has, some issues are not gonna get a long term fix this offseason. Some areas are gonna have to get band-aids. Why not OT? If we tag Cam, at least we will have 2 competent, yet unspectacular starting OT's (Robinson and Little.) Just getting rid of Jawaan Taylor is an improvement. From there we can focus on truly upgrading the O-Line via the interior.
Why? @because I knew it would aggravate you@
My thought is that instead of dropping $16 for one year, pay a little more up front, spread the hit over a few years at a comparable rate, and have him around for a few seasons. Cam is good, not great. He may not be all-pro, but I'm happier to have him in the fold when we're still not sure how Little's health will be over a full season starting at either T position and potentially drafting more unproven players to shore up the line. How horrible would it be to have good depth, potential trade fodder, or less desperation this time next offseason?
Two of the biggest personnel complaints about our team are that Baalke's ability to draw players is a question mark and when we do get decent players, we fail to keep them around. Giving Cam a multi-year deal over a second tagging might help with both of those issues.
But, your mind is made up, everyone else is wrong, and I've wasted a whole bunch of keystrokes.
