Quote:I always wondered why there wasn't more too. The Monroe trade is a great example. He's got 12 games left on his contract and the FO either knows he's just absolutely not going to re-sign or they just don't want him for whatever reason (poor fit in the scheme, money, age...whatever). They KNOW he won't be here next year so they get what they can for him. Heck, he can always re-sign here as a FA and they get the picks too.

There must be dozens of players in similar situations.

On the flip side, I'm concerned that the rich will get richer. Again, look at the Monroe deal. He went to the Super Bowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens. He's a 26 yo proven (top 10 in the NFL- maybe, but somewhere in there) left tackle- an established player at a premium position. He may enjoy it there, like his new DC and the winning environment and sign on, like Nixon, for four more years.

The rich get richer.

Same could happen with Jon Beason. He's a quality LB going to a team with a winning history. He's a little different, though, given his injury history but the point is valid. I think we'll begin to see some more player movement via trades, I just fear it will be one-sided, from the poor to the rich.

OTOH, with good use of the acquired picks and good coaching, a team can go from poor to rich. Interesting stuff.

Don't be so quick to assume that the rich got richer. The Ravens still have to sign him as a free agent or franchise him and they have cap issues.

Which is why the NFL isn't like MLB. Yes, MLB has a luxury tax, but nothing like the NFL's hard cap. GMs tend to like draft picks - young players under controlled salary. Look at the great situation the 49ers and Seahawks are with Kap and Wilson - a GM's dream.

---