(10-04-2022, 01:46 PM)Norseman Wrote: I am surprised that people use a player’s draft spot against him. I understand that there are expectations that follow with being drafted high, but I would direct criticism towards those who evaluated and drafted the player and not the player. It is not like a player will stand up on Draft Day and say ‘I am not that good, better let me drop to the third round’.

It is OK to criticize a player’s production, attitude and professionalism when that is warranted, but not every contribution shows up on a stat sheet. That being said, I cannot say I have the football iq to evaluate Chaisson’s play.

I find a lot of people act on emotion instead of logic.  Some people can't control their emotions and get angry when an early round pick doesn't live up to their draft status and therefore wants to reactively cut him to ease their emotions.  However, this isn't logical.  First, as you stated, the anger is largely misplaced.  It isn't Chaisson's fault that he was drafted early.  That was Dave Caldwell.  You're punishing the wrong person.  Second, the priority of logical football fans isn't to punish people.  It is to have the best roster possible.  If you cut that first rounder, who are you going to replace the player with?  Probably a UDFA or a street free agent.  Is he a better player with more upside?  That's the only question before us.  If no, you keep him.  In most cases, the answer is probably going to be no.

Logically, unless there are salary cap implications, where the player was drafted is irrelevant.  It's water under the bridge.  If we cut Chaisson, we don't get that first round draft pick back, so why does it matter?  If a first rounder plays like a 7th rounder, that by itself is not a reason to cut him.  You only cut him if his 7th round playing performance is worse than the UDFA or whoever you would replace him with on your 53 man roster.  As far as the salary cap, Chaisson's salary is guaranteed.  As such, there is no savings by cutting him.  It would actually hurt our salary cap because we would have to pay his replacement.  The only reason to cut him is if there is a better alternative player available at his position.  There's not, so we keep him.  It's that simple.

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