(04-22-2018, 12:32 PM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(04-22-2018, 11:36 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: If you read my post a bit more thoroughly, I'm not advocating some return to a poor run defense as you suggest. I'm stating that the 2018 season may make moving on from either Dareus or Campbell more palatable if Dareus regresses or Campbell begins to show age. Beyond that - I also suggested going all in on a premier DT prospect on the 2019 draft. 
And this is not a personal slight or anything like that at all -  but you don't know jack squat about Dawuane Smoot yet. None of us do.  He may turn out to be at best a small drop off from Campbell - or at worst a nice rotation piece coupled with a high draft pick. 
Again - let's analyze this after another year of football. These decisions often have a way of becoming easier via player development, regression, or even injury (heaven forbid). Fowler could also make the decision easier by doing something stupid off the field again and incur suspension. 

No one wants to break up the line we have now, but if Fowler continues to improve (as he has done pretty steadily thus far) and Campbell starts to fade or Dareus reverts to his alleged lack of motivation/effort, you keep the ascending player and move on from the one declining. Replacing veterans with draft picks just has to happen fairly regularly to maintain a healthy cap.  Even if the vet has a couple of good years left. 

Another potential way to clear some money for keeping Fowler and the other 2nd contract players is to draft a stud FS this year or next. Gipson has a $9 million cap hit in 2019. Releasing him would clear 7.4 mil.  I thought Gip had an outstanding 2017 season and I don't want to move on from him either, at some point you need some more young players performing on a cheap rookie deal. We can't have 9 of our 11 starting defenders playing on big second (or third) contracts. It's not sustainable.

What if Campbell and Dareus continue to shine? What then? I can see moving on from Gipson. I have acknowledged that, but Nkokoue and Jack will be looking for extensions as well. To me, the easiest fix is finding a way to draft Mason Rudolph, so we can wipe Bortles' salary from the book in 2019 that would save a ton of money.

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Then you keep them and figure it out af that point. We're not saying to cut anybody today. We're saying hypothetically we could move on from some of those guys IF others develop this year. 

I understand your viewpoint of wanting to keep them, and they likely scenario is they are still some of our top performers this year. But you're not acknowledging the possibility that Fowler becomes just as integral to this line as someone else. 

You can't throw your hypotheticals out there without even acknowledging the opposite is possible. We have this whole year to determine which direction to go.

My argument is pick up the option just in case he has a great year. If he doesn't, then cut/trade him. If he does, the option year might be cheaper than his contract extension. Just like with Blake, you can't live in fear of the injury causing a guarantee.

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