We can’t pay everyone and there will be some hard decisions to make.
Who is the core of this team that Brad will pay and try to build around?
Jack Campbell?
Branch?
LaPorta?
Will Goff eventually be a cap casualty for a QB on a rookie contract?
Campbell for sure
LaPorta is a maybe
And Branch i dont see coming back
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Gibbs and Jack Campbell seem likely
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Brad has said that the locking up the big four from the 2023 class remains a priority. Beyond that we’re waiting on development.
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If I had to guess right now, all of them.
But Branch is definitely up in the air, we might have to franchise him for a year to draw it out longer for his health to catch up, or maybe he’ll take a cheap 2-year deal or something like Jordan Love did.
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No way I’m franchising a db with a torn achilles. I agree with most of your takes bud. But that is crazy.
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Well that’s why I followed it up with the cheap 2-year deal caveat lol. I only mentioned it because franchising a safety, while expensive, isn’t anything like franchising a WR or edge relative to the cap. It’s the reason some teams tag RBs and kickers and the like (though they’re even cheaper than safeties). Plus it would only take a year to remedy if it proves to be a mistake. Admittedly it’s only something we would do if we have the room, but we really need options to buy ourselves more time to make a decision in this case. Too bad the 5th year option isn’t available.
I agree it’s tough. Cause he is likely not gonna play much this year at all. And if he does, won’t be anywhere close to himself. In 2027 potentially he would be fully healed. Potentially being the key word. The franchise tag is like 20 million I think. Just way too much risk for me. His career may also be over too. Just a brutal injury that is.
I’d need an incentives based deal. For games played. Snaps played, etc.
Laporta - 50%
Branch - 25%
Gibbs/Jack - 100%
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I think it’s possible Gibbs and Campbell get inked in the next month… I’m not sure either contract’s APY starts with a 2, despite popular belief. I think Gibbs gets really close to 20, maybe surpasses it, but not by much. I think Jack comes in around 16-18.
I think they extend Laporta mid season like they did with Hutch coming off injury… Probably in the same 16-18 APY range as Campbell
Branch is the tricky one… I already thought he may be the odd man out before the injury. I don’t think they’ll extend him until next off season… Could he a tag candidate, but it’d be the first time this staff uses it, not sure it’s something they want to do.
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I still have hope. We are in the era when people will come back completely from achilles tears. Remember ACL tears used to be career enders too (Billy Sims), now they don’t do any real harm long term. We will reach that point with achilles tears soon.
There’s a draft prospect, a RB who has to cut and move and juke, named Jadarian Price who tore his achilles in late June of 2022. You would never have known it watching him play last year.
Gibby , LaPorta
Tell that Moseley. 
Well if you keep doing it…
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Jack and Gibbs are Duhs
I don’t value the TE position as much as others do around here. Plus, Amon Ra is probably the best short/intermediate receiver right now. I love LaPorta and want him back, but I would choose Branch if he rebounds.
My sense is that LaPorta as well as being a great player is viewed as a culture linchpin. As long as he returns to form he’s an extension lock.
As is Branch. It just depends on their recoveries and long term injury prognosis.
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Yeah, that’s where I am too. I think LaPorta’s back issues would have to be degenerative - and there’s no indication of that - for us to not sign him long-term.
Outside of that 2023 class, does anyone else get paid? Or for the guys that were paid, any of them asked to take a paycut or let go?
First one that comes to mind is Barnes.
Or maybe Kerby gets asked to take a paycut?