Incidentally, the Mayfield-type circumstances are the kind of situations that Ballard typically takes advantage of with his mega cap space. Every year there are high quality players that teams are unable to keep due to their poor cap management. Ballard is able to take on these guys at a bargain price. Obviously Mayfield didn't fit the bill here (or the Colts were the team that demanded a draft pick to take Mayfield).
The Wentz situation was like this too, as the Colts had all the negotiating leverage, but inexplicably gave the Eagles a conditional 1 and a 3 for him. Honestly, I would have expected a mid-to-late rounder, given the rift between the Eagles management and Wentz, and presence of Hurts. I can only imagine that the Wentz trade compensation was driven, in part at least, by Reich's rabid enthusiasm and the close relationship between the Colts and Eagles personnel. Regardless of the outcome, I still think the plan to acquire Wentz was a worthwhile gamble, but the price paid was just too high given the circumstances.
|