Around the NFL: 2012 Off-Season-Free Agency/Trades

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by skinster

I'm just wondering, why doesn't every team with a high profile free agent that isn't using the franchise tag just tag and trade their players that they're not looking to retain? Mario Williams, Matt Flynn, Terell Thomas, and Levi Brown (maybe, not entirely sure how good he is) come to mind. I'm more talking about williams and flynn considering I'm not entirely sure how much would be gotten for brown or thomas and what their FA plan is (I say this because they can get compensatory picks equal to trade value if they do not sign other FAs). But I would be absolutely shocked if Williams or Flynn didn't get at least a 2nd rounder if put on the trading block, which is significantly better than an after the 3rd round pick from compensation.

Why would a team trade a draft pick for a player about to become a free agent?

Also, since last season's trading deadline has passed, I don't think you can trade a player at this point. You would have to wait till the start of the new league year, and at that point the FA's by definition are no longer under contract and the old team has no rights to trade.

[skinster]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Why would a team trade a draft pick for a player about to become a free agent?

Also, since last season's trading deadline has passed, I don't think you can trade a player at this point. You would have to wait till the start of the new league year, and at that point the FA's by definition are no longer under contract and the old team has no rights to trade.

Well because he's no longer a free agent when you tag him. The patriots did this with Cassel, so I'm sure it can be done.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by skinster

Well because he's no longer a free agent when you tag him. The patriots did this with Cassel, so I'm sure it can be done.

I am sure there was a conversation about this before, I thought under the new CBA this was not allowed or at the least discouraged. But then again, that's what the Eagles are doing with DJax.

[skinster]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

I am sure there was a conversation about this before, I thought under the new CBA this was not allowed or at the least discouraged. But then again, that's what the Eagles are doing with DJax.

Are they? Didn't know that. I'd be shocked if trades weren't allowed now. But maybe tagged/tendered players cant be traded for less than they are tagged for? If that were the case I wonder if that rule would still apply if the tagged contract went unsigned?

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by skinster

Well because he's no longer a free agent when you tag him. The patriots did this with Cassel, so I'm sure it can be done.

Well if you were saying to tag and trade, the reason teams don't is because if they don't find a trading partner, then they are stuck with that tag against their cap. So let's say Matt Flynn was tagged, the Packers would have that cap hit count on the first day of the new league year. So now they have to make that trade asap, if they find a partner, or else their FA funds are limited by that cap hit. Any partner certainly would know this, and use it to diminish any value they might get in a trade.

Further, if they don't find a partner, then they are stuck with a $16million backup.

Thus the FO has to decide if that choice is worth the risk a week before they can officially make the trade.