NFL Network: Bears' Briggs, 31st Pick for Skins' 6th Pick?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

if you can read the point I made : franchise player require two first round picks - we are not losing a 1st round pick to aquire a franchised player. This is what I meant. 2nd, we were looking to trade down to aquire more picks. We essentially get to trade down to a late 1st and get a 26 year old LB which is worth a hole hell of a lot more than any 2nd or 3rd round player we would have drafted.

I think this is the main bone of contention. The value of Briggs and the #31 pick is less than the value of trading from the #6 to pick up a later first round pick (presumably higher than #31) and/or a 2nd and a 3rd rounder.

Not to mention that of the weaknesses we have on defense, linebacker is the most solid set of positions we have. The help we need at positions along the D-line and at cornerback and strong safety outweigh any contributions Briggs can give us.

Then there are the salary cap implications. Briggs will wind up costing way more than the pool of draft picks we would have been able to amass. And yes, our front office hasn't exactly hit homeruns with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks in the past, but at least we're moving in the right direction by using the draft for player acquisition. If we miss out with the draft picks, at least they don't cost us as much.

Also, don't discount the possibility that Briggs could be the wrong fit for our defense. As we can all easily admit, there are no "sure things" in free agency either.