Cardinals' Off-Season Plan V. 3.0 Blockbuster Trade

[Mitch]

AZ/PITT Trade:

The Arizona Cardinals get:

* QB Ben Roethlisberger
* #20 pick in 2017 Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers get:

* OLB/DE Chandler Jones
* #13 pick in 2017 Draft
* conditional 2018 draft pick (based on how far the Cardinals get in playoffs)

The Cardinals make this trade because BA's dream has been to be reunited with Big Ben. Roethlisberger would like a change of scenery at this point in his career. He is only 34 and could play for 3 more years. Plus, with Big Ben on board, Larry Fitzgerald will eagerly want to return and possibly might play another year beyond this.

The Steelers make this trade because Roethlisberger might retire otherwise, at which point they get nothing in return. The Steelers' defense lacked a good pass rush in the playoffs, their best rusher being James Harrison. To acquire Chandler Jones would upgrade the pass rush and with the #13 pick they could be in a prime position to take one of the top 3 QBs in the draft. Although, a QB who fits their system well is UFA Mike Glennon.

Roethlisberger has three years remaining on his contract:

2017 Base: $12M
2018 Base: $12M + $6M roster bonus
2019 Base: $12M + $6M roster bonus

Cardinals' 2017 FA Signings:

WR Kenny Stills (3/30M)
TE Luke Willson (2/8M)
TE Darren Fells (1/1.5M)
G Larry Warford (3/18M)
C A.Q. Shipley (1/2M)
DE Lawrence Guy (3/20M)
LB Sio Moore (1/1.8M)
OLB John Simon (3/12M)
CB Marcus Cooper (2/7M)
S D.J. Swearinger (3/16M)

Cardinals Moving On:

QB Carson Palmer---retirement
TE Jermaine Gresham (CHI)
DE Calais Campbell (WAS)
SS Tony Jefferson (SD)
LB Kevin Minter (SF)
LB Daryl Washington---cut

Cap Casualties:

S Tyvon Branch

Cardinals' 2017 Draft

#20 (1) DE/OLB Charles Harris, Missouri
#45 (2) LB Hasson Reddick, Temple
#77 (3) CB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
#117 (4) FS John Johnson, Boston College
#158 (5) OLB Trey Hendrickson, Florida Atlantic
#179 (5) SS Weston Steelhammer, Air Force
#199 (6) RB Matt Dayes, North Carolina St.
#236 (7) WR Kenny Golloway, Northern Illinois

Could the Cardinals pull this off? I very much believe that Big Ben would love to finish his career with BA.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Great, back to a defense starving for a pass rush.

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[WisconsinCard]

I love the idea, but I don't see anyway Pitt is making that trade. Bud Dupree was coming on late in the year after recovering from injury.

 

[82CardsGrad]

This of course assumes that A.) Palmer retires based on his own decision, B.) BA convinces Palmer to retire.
Both of which I believe are quite unlikely...

 

[cardncubfan]

Why would you want a rapist on the team? Also I agree with MasterPho. We finally get a pass rusher that we've always needed & you want to trade him away. Makes no sense.

 

[unseenaz]

If PITT took this trade they would be accepting a rebuilt (they were just in the AFC championship, why would they) and a rebuilding team has no use for chandler jones.

 

[Finito]

Why would you want a rapist on the team? Also I agree with MasterPho. We finally get a pass rusher that we've always needed & you want to trade him away. Makes no sense.

Let's trade our 26 year old pass rushing stud for a QB who is banged up contemplating retirement.

Sounds about right.

 

[juza76]

i know is unlikely but i appreciate mitch fantasy , i like this kind of thread and he is a master on it

 

[Mitch]

Great, back to a defense starving for a pass rush.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Have you watched tape of Charles Harris of Missouri? He's got Markus Golden's motor and stronger explosion.

What is nagging at me is the fact that Chandler Jones in the 4 must win games down the stretch where the Cardinals went 1-3, had zero sacks and 2 QB pressures. He seemed maxed out on 8 sacks for the longest time. And during those games I kept watching him and it was like he was running at 3/4 speed. Finally, when pressed about his lack of production during that stretch he said to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, that "yeah, I've got to play better."

Then when the team was eliminated he gets 3 sacks in the last two games.

This is EXACTLY what Patriots' fans complained about Jones. He disappears in big games and many of his sacks come in bunches during lop-sided or less meaningful games.

Is he talented? No question.

BUT---is he worth $16-17M a year, or even $15.4M for next year on an f-tag?

That's a salary for an elite pass rusher and thus far it would be very difficult to call Jones elite.

What the Cardinals need is a sack master to close out games, the way Dwight Freeney did in 2015.

Jones was not that guy.

Could he be that guy?

Possibly, yes. But to sign him to a 4 year $68M contract is a risky gamble on potential.

Then you look at the draft and there are some edge rushers who look like they have just as much potential as Jones and possibly more.

Myles Garrett
Jonathan Allen
Derek Barnett
Charles Harris
Tim Williams
A.J. Watt
Carl Lawson
DeMarcus Walker

Any of those guys I would rather take a much less expensive gamble on and pair them with our best pass rusher, Markus Golden.

I think that one of the reasons why the Cardinals had a down year is having to pay Calais Campbell 1/10th of the salary cap. Imagine how many good players the Cardinals could have added using that $15.3M.

I think it is a mistake to turn around and now give $15.4M to Chandler Jones in a year where we need a big haul in free agency.

Hopefully Jones is willing to take a fair value contract which would be a win for both sides. But if he insists on elite money, the Cardinals will have a tough decision to make. A decision which likely gets postponed another year while Jones plays at $15.4M on the f-tag.

 

[Mitch]

I love the idea, but I don't see anyway Pitt is making that trade. Bud Dupree was coming on late in the year after recovering from injury.

Good point about Dupree, Wisconsin. But how much does James Harrison have left in the tank? And Jarvis Jones never panned out and is now a UFA.

 

[GatorAZ]

Obviously in a heartbeat but Pitt isn't trading Ben. Mitch there's a better chance we trade for A-Brown. There's been some chatter on local Pittsburg radio they could move him.

 

[Mitch]

If PITT took this trade they would be accepting a rebuilt (they were just in the AFC championship, why would they) and a rebuilding team has no use for chandler jones.

Not if they think they can win just as well with Mike Glennon. Maybe they even roll the dice with Tony Romo for a year or two. He and Todd Haley have worked together before back in 2005 and 2006.

 

[Mitch]

i know is unlikely but i appreciate mitch fantasy , i like this kind of thread and he is a master on it

Yes, this is fantasy. Thank you for recognizing that, juza.

Although, would it surprise anyone if BA made a furious pitch to try to trade for Ben Roethlisberger?

No risk it, no biscuit!

 

[Mitch]

Obviously in a heartbeat but Pitt isn't trading Ben. Mitch there's a better chance we trade for A-Brown. There's been some chatter on local Pittsburg radio they could move him.

I've heard that, Gator, about Antonio Brown and have been reading about it. Big Ben's been calling him a crybaby when he doesn't always get the ball.

 

[DVontel]

Ben has been fragile for a while now.

He's rarely ever 100% nowadays. Not to mention he's contemplating retirement.

Also, no thanks at giving up Chandler.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Have you watched tape of Charles Harris of Missouri? He's got Markus Golden's motor and stronger explosion.

What is nagging at me is the fact that Chandler Jones in the 4 must win games down the stretch where the Cardinals went 1-3, had zero sacks and 2 QB pressures. He seemed maxed out on 8 sacks for the longest time. And during those games I kept watching him and it was like he was running at 3/4 speed. Finally, when pressed about his lack of production during that stretch he said to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, that "yeah, I've got to play better."

Then when the team was eliminated he gets 3 sacks in the last two games.

This is EXACTLY what Patriots' fans complained about Jones. He disappears in big games and many of his sacks come in bunches during lop-sided or less meaningful games.

Is he talented? No question.

BUT---is he worth $16-17M a year, or even $15.4M for next year on an f-tag?

That's a salary for an elite pass rusher and thus far it would be very difficult to call Jones elite.

What the Cardinals need is a sack master to close out games, the way Dwight Freeney did in 2015.

Jones was not that guy.

Could he be that guy?

Possibly, yes. But to sign him to a 4 year $68M contract is a risky gamble on potential.

Then you look at the draft and there are some edge rushers who look like they have just as much potential as Jones and possibly more.

Myles Garrett
Jonathan Allen
Derek Barnett
Charles Harris
Tim Williams
A.J. Watt
Carl Lawson
DeMarcus Walker

Any of those guys I would rather take a much less expensive gamble on and pair them with our best pass rusher, Markus Golden.

I think that one of the reasons why the Cardinals had a down year is having to pay Calais Campbell 1/10th of the salary cap. Imagine how many good players the Cardinals could have added using that $15.3M.

I think it is a mistake to turn around and now give $15.4M to Chandler Jones in a year where we need a big haul in free agency.

Hopefully Jones is willing to take a fair value contract which would be a win for both sides. But if he insists on elite money, the Cardinals will have a tough decision to make. A decision which likely gets postponed another year while Jones plays at $15.4M on the f-tag.

Dude, Jones allowed Golden and CC the ability to attack 1 on 1s...it's not always about sacks. He had a bajillion pressures and hurries on the qb. Why bring in another rookie that may take time to develop and/or ride pine as a rookie under BA. I could onmy see your scenario playing out if they were trading for a younger stud QB, not another older dude.

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[Mitch]

Dude, Jones allowed Golden and CC the ability to attack 1 on 1s...it's not always about sacks. He had a bajillion pressures and hurries on the qb. Why bring in another rookie that may take time to develop and/or ride pine as a rookie under BA. I could onmy see your scenario playing out if they were trading for a younger stud QB, not another older dude.

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Good points, master. Are you fine with paying Jones 16-17M a year?

 

[az jam]

BA would love to have Ben on the Cards team. Fun looking at your Plan V.3. Can hardly wait for Plan V.4.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Good points, master. Are you fine with paying Jones 16-17M a year?

I'm fine tagging him and then playing the Fitz and Palmer retirement game next year. If they both go, that would free up cash to extend Jones further...and he'd still only be 27. Could be other QBs available for a trade or draft, too.


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[MartinD]

Ben has been fragile for a while now.

He's rarely ever 100% nowadays. Not to mention he's contemplating retirement.

Also, no thanks at giving up Chandler.

Also Also, I have no love for Roethlisberger. It's childish, perhaps, but I don't want him here. Maybe if the Cardinals had won that Super Bowl....

 

[juza76]

i would draft zay jones , i dont knwo if he still there in round 3, but has great leaping ability and can catch
had amazing stats in college

 

[juza76]

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[juza76]

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[JeffGollin]

[QUOTE="Mitch, post: 3456862, member: 2291"...would it surprise anyone if BA made a furious pitch to try to trade for Ben Roethlisberger?"[/QUOTE]
Mmmmm...yes, it would surprise me...er...well...I could see the possibility, but not for Chandler Jones.

We have a pretty good roster. We should make this our base-line for any deals going forward. If we weaken our roster at one position because we "hope" we'll improve another position, I'd be very wary.

No risk-it/no roster-gut.

 

[jmt]

I don't want Ben the rapist on the Big Red or to lose Jones. It won't happen anyway but don't like the idea at all.