Quote:So getting rid of one of the handful of players worth actually keeping for some middling picks is an improvement?

With or without Monroe this team this season will likely finish with a record of no better than last season, if not worse. So the aim for this team this season is to develop the young talent, in their best position, and in the Joeckel case that means LT. Giving Joeckel the chance to play LT will potentially help his improvement into the LT this team's management hopes he can become.


The other aim of this season is to maximise the draft picks. Monroe has value, so trading him for picks is a good idea when he could walk at the end of his deal for nothing. Monroe isn't one of those guys that it is worth taking a risk on keeping and hoping he helps this team win. He's a good tackle, but his next deal may not be cap friendly, and his presence holds back Joeckel. So in the end getting picks for a expiring contract is a good move for both teams involved.


For me, I did hope that Monroe and Joeckel would be a long term tackle pairing. But at the same time Monroe's exit was always likely. And joeckel is the ideal replacement.

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