Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 260459)

The GM whose head coach turned him into a 3 time All Pro in his system, a system the Colts don't run anymore.



If you can get 80% of the production of Leonard at 50% of the price in Okereke AND save significant draft capital, why would you not do that?



I'm not suggesting poking another hole in the roster, I'm suggesting smart cap management and asset maximization.

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory (Post 260460)

Well normally I would tend to agree with that math. But assuming Leonard returns to form, the 20% that Leonard does that Okereke does not (primarily turnovers, but also coverage) is not weighted equally.

I think before last year he was averaging something absurd like 8 Int's+FF's by himself per year. Since what he excels at are game-altering plays, I don't know that it's wise to give that up.

Originally Posted by JAFF (Post 260461)

If hes healthy, and you dont have a LB slot open, play him at SS, or what us old farts call monster back. You find a way to get Leonard on the field, you dont trade him. And any DC who cant figure out how to use him, should be fired.

Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 260462)

I get what you're saying, but a franchise QB makes far more game altering plays than Leonard ever will. It's a calculated risk, and one I imagine will be unpopular, but the potential payoff is a stronger roster for a rookie contract franchise QB.

Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 260442)

It'd be nice to talk about free agency in the free agency thread, but here we are. Given the current list of free agents, the ones I'd like to retain are:

DE Yannick Ngakoue
LB E.J. Speed
LB Bobby Okereke
WR Parris Campbell
FS Rodney McLeod
K Chase McLaughlin

Ngakoue was the most consistent pass rush the Colts had last year and he always seems to find his way to Gus Bradley's defense. Every outlet I've seen has him signing a below market value contract for a pass rusher, so it makes sense to run it back with him on the (relative) cheap, say 2 years/$25 million as PFF suggested.

Given the team's current situation at LB, E.J. Speed is a must retain for me, given that he'll give you decent production from the LB position and doesn't have the name recognition or notoriety across the league to get a starter level contract elsewhere. With Leonard a complete question mark, and Zaire Franklin coming out of nowhere and likely commanding a big payday soon, getting Speed's solid production back on the cheap is a no brainer. Something in the $2-3 million per year range should get this done.

Speaking of the team's current situation at LB, Bobby Okereke is the most interesting of the Colts free agents, especially to other teams. Most Colts related media outlets seem to believe he'll walk in free agency for a starter contract elsewhere, something in the $10 million per year range seems about right. With the current contracts on the books, I don't think a contract like this for Okereke would be viable for the Colts to sign with him. That said, a pre-June 1 trade of Shaquille Leonard would meet the Colts a cap savings of about $7.8 million, and there's a certain head coach in Chicago that I am very sure would be interested in his services. Conveniently enough, the Bears happen to have an asset the Colts would be interested in as well, namely the #1 pick. Were Leonard included in that trade package, resigning Okereke to a starter level contract would be an obvious choice with almost no cap repercussions.

Campbell finally flashed signs of the promise that caused him to be drafted 59th overall ahead of D.K. Metcalf last year. He still has quite a bit to prove, but would make a talented target and slot receiver for a rookie QB to throw to. A 1 year prove it deal is in order here, with "proving it" potentially leading to a long term starter level contract.

Originally I didn't have Rodney McLeod on my list, but I don't think passing on starting caliber players that are projected to make $2 million next year is a generally good practice.

McLaughlin is a good kicker, pay him a decent rate and keep him.

Originally Posted by Chromeburn (Post 260476)

I’d love just Okereke and Campbell. But I feel like it will be just Speed and McLaughlin.

Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 260509)

With Bradley back, Ngakoue is almost assuredly coming back. He follows Bradley. The only way I see that being different is if the Colts tell him they don't want him back. I don't think Ballard is willing to commit $40+ million of cap space to the LB position so Okereke walks this year or Franklin walks in his contract year, I would prefer Franklin walk, but I don't think they resign Okereke. To me, Speed, Campbell, and McLaughlin are no brainer high end reserve money ($2-4 million) resigns, same for McLeod if he's going to come in around $2 million.

Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 260462)

I get what you're saying, but a franchise QB makes far more game altering plays than Leonard ever will. It's a calculated risk, and one I imagine will be unpopular, but the potential payoff is a stronger roster for a rookie contract franchise QB.



I'm not arguing Leonard isn't a valuable player, I'm arguing that cap math and retention of draft capital make trading him make sense. Leonard may have more value to the Bears than the Colts at this point.