Mitch: I Want to Trade For Joe Thomas?

[Mitch]

Hue Jackson is saying that the Browns are not going to trade T Joe Thomas. He seems pretty adamant about that.

But, the Cardinals could make an offer that would appeal to the Browns' brass---such as offering T D.J. Humphries and a 3rd round pick for Thomas. Would that be enough? I would even go as far as offering Humphries and a 2nd rounder, if that's what it would take.

Can the Cardinals afford Joe Thomas?

He would cost them $4.15 M for the second half of this season...and they would have him under contract for the 2017 and 2018 seasons at $8.8 M per.

The Cardinals currently have $2.1 M in cap space---trading Humphries would add another $2.1M, thus either Mike Disner can find a way to add a little extra cap space via restructuring a current contract---or---Steve Keim could swing another trade---such as trading WR Michael Floyd to the Kansas City Chiefs for WR De'Anthony Thomas and a 5th round pick. Thomas can become the #5 WR and the starting punt returner.

The Chiefs desperately need a WR threat opposite Jeremy Macklin. Floyd could be very enticing for them---and they have the cap space to afford him. Knowing Andy Reid, he would be confident that he could turn Floyd around and possibly sign him to a long-term deal.

If the Cardinals' Super Bowl window is now or next year---trading for Joe Thomas would make a good deal of sense, for the following reasons:

1. To help protect QB Carson Palmer---which is of paramount importance.
2. To help bolster the Cardinals' power running game with David Johnson.
3. To help galvanize and balance the offensive line that is currently strong on the left and shaky on the right.
4. To give the team the sense that the FO and SK is doing everything they and he can to bring a championship to Arizona.
5. The Cardinals' opponents are lining up their best pass rushers to D.J. Humphries' side---now they would have to contend with Jared Veldheer and Joe Thomas.
6. To ensure that the Seahawks or Vikings don't get him.

Man, I would be ecstatic if Keim can pull this rabbit out of his hat. Would you?

 

[kerouac9]

Why would the Browns want DJ Humphries?

Also, Thomas has a $9m+ salary. Not sure there's much we'd be able to do to get that number into ours. Michael Floyd has no trade value midway though his contract year.

 

[Mitch]

Why would the Browns want DJ Humphries?

Also, Thomas has a $9m+ salary. Not sure there's much we'd be able to do to get that number into ours. Michael Floyd has no trade value midway though his contract year.

Because Humphries can play both tackle positions and they would have him under contract for three more years---plus they add to their cache of draft picks.

Thomas could count a little over $4M the rest of this season and $8.8M in 2017 and 2018. Those figures are a steal, imo.

Some teams in the playoff hunt will be calling about Floyd. He still has plenty of talent---some team will believe they can maximize it.

 

[cardpa]

Because Humphries can play both tackle positions and they would have him under contract for three more years---plus they add to their cache of draft picks.

Thomas could count a little over $4M the rest of this season and $8.8M in 2017 and 2018. Those figures are a steal, imo.

Some teams in the playoff hunt will be calling about Floyd. He still has plenty of talent---some team will believe they can maximize it.

Sometimes I think Floyd has a poor attitude because he's not the focus of the passing game but doesn't express it because he would end up in BA doghouse . I really expect Floyd to leave after this season and then expect to hear him trash the Cardinals .

 

[RON_IN_OC]

So, are you saying to move Veldheer to RT, or Thomas to RT, in your scenario?

 

[vince56]

Changes like this rarely happen mid year.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Because Humphries can play both tackle positions and they would have him under contract for three more years---plus they add to their cache of draft picks.

Thomas could count a little over $4M the rest of this season and $8.8M in 2017 and 2018. Those figures are a steal, imo.

Some teams in the playoff hunt will be calling about Floyd. He still has plenty of talent---some team will believe they can maximize it.

Mitch, what leads you to believe Hump can play left tackle in the NFL? [emoji15]

 

[Mitch]

So, are you saying to move Veldheer to RT, or Thomas to RT, in your scenario?

I think seeing this is mid-season, I would play Thomas at RT to get that side of the line stronger, and then next year I would flip flop them heading into OTAs and mini-camp.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch, what leads you to believe Hump can play left tackle in the NFL? [emoji15]

BA has said several times that if Veldheer needs to be spelled, Humph would be the LT. Humph was touted as a LT coming out of Florida. When in shape he has the physical attributes.

 

[82CardsGrad]

BA has said several times that if Veldheer needs to be spelled, Humph would be the LT. Humph was touted as a LT coming out of Florida. When in shape he has the physical attributes.

But he's never done it in the NFL and he's seriously struggling at RT. And you think a team would trade a Joe Thomas for that? C'mon man...

 

[juza76]

Our runner game is great
The pass blocking not so well but is about Palmer gettin rid of the ball
I stay with Humphreys instead of espensive 31 years old tackle
Is logic and every manager in the NfL would it as well

 

[juza76]

Many of the sacks allowed are on carson palmer
U can see it when we played with Stanton, who is more mobile qb
Palmer is a statue with heavy feet

 

[juza76]

To protect 100% carson palmer, and the time he takes before throwing, we need iron man at left tackle and predator in the right side

Palmer is playing garbage compare the palmer we had under the centre last season

 

[BigRedRage]

I think seeing this is mid-season, I would play Thomas at RT to get that side of the line stronger, and then next year I would flip flop them heading into OTAs and mini-camp.

Why is everyone so interested in moving a stud LT to RT all the time?

 

[TJ]

He'll likely go to Seattle and make us all sad and depresseddepressed

 

[Darkside]

BA has said several times that if Veldheer needs to be spelled, Humph would be the LT. Humph was touted as a LT coming out of Florida. When in shape he has the physical attributes.

DJ is the weakest link on our Oline, and that includes the backups who've played. DJ can't even play the position he's strongest at, there's no evidence he can change his already poor technique to adjust to LT. He hasn't even mastered the stance at his natural position, what evidence is there that he can learn a new stance and technique?

Fans on this board keep saying he's strong in the running game but I'm not seeing that. I see a guy who can get upfield. That's different. Just because he's in the picture when DJ makes a run doesn't mean he's effective. Many times he's just standing there or looking for someone to stare harshly at, because he's not as effective as a blocker downfield as Fitzgerald. Or Floyd for that matter. I've savaged Floyd, but he's a better blocker than Hump.

 

[Darkside]

Many of the sacks allowed are on carson palmer
U can see it when we played with Stanton, who is more mobile qb
Palmer is a statue with heavy feet

Great post. I love the heavy feet you mentioned. Last year, when he was an MVP candidate, I wrote a post in preseason about how fast he's getting out of his snaps, just really driving back after the snap and planting. His release wasn't faster last year, but his drop was much quicker, giving him another half second or second to throw. His motion didn't change, his release didn't change, it was entirely his feet. I think after his surgery he just wanted to get out of there, out from under center.

This year he's just normal Palmer. His average self. Palmer's average is still better than many, maybe most, QB's. He can still make throws 95% of NFL QB's can't make. The way he drives the football on an out route is still impressive, a lot of QB's can't make that throw. And he's still got a better deep ball than a lot of NFL QB's.

Trading for Joe Thomas is ridiculous. We already have a left tackle in Veldheer, who is battle tested and played in big games. Joe Thomas has done nothing. His stats are good, but has he ever even played in a playoff game? Has he played when games are on the line? When it matters? When games and plays count? He doesn't have any of that pedigree. He has more stats to accumulate because the Browns suck and are always losing, so he's always pass defending. That doesn't make him great. He's never even had to defend when the game is on the line. I know people are saying Veldheer is having a down year, but I'm not buying that, I think he's the best LT we've had in a decade or more.

 

[cardncubfan]

DJ is the weakest link on our Oline, and that includes the backups who've played. DJ can't even play the position he's strongest at, there's no evidence he can change his already poor technique to adjust to LT. He hasn't even mastered the stance at his natural position, what evidence is there that he can learn a new stance and technique?

Fans on this board keep saying he's strong in the running game but I'm not seeing that. I see a guy who can get upfield. That's different. Just because he's in the picture when DJ makes a run doesn't mean he's effective. Many times he's just standing there or looking for someone to stare harshly at, because he's not as effective as a blocker downfield as Fitzgerald. Or Floyd for that matter. I've savaged Floyd, but he's a better blocker than Hump.

Isn't his natural position LT? That's where he played in college & was a first team all american.

 

[Darkside]

Isn't his natural position LT? That's where he played in college & was a first team all american.

He was a left tackle who pulled across the line to help in the running game, because of his speed and athleticism. He did well in college doing that, that was the program they ran, but his pass protection sucked. Even pulling across the line in college, he was going against dudes who aren't NFL players now. He can't do either one of those things effectively now.

 

[JeffGollin]

Look at the key factors contributing to key Cardinal losses and you come up with:

1. Special Teams

2. Dropped Passes

Not that it couldn't be made better, but the OL has had more good games than bad. Adding Joe Thomas would add one aging ex-star & creating instability while giving up a young lineman and a #3.

Don't like the deal.

 

[Darkside]

Look at the key factors contributing to key Cardinal losses and you come up with:

1. Special Teams

2. Dropped Passes

Not that it couldn't be made better, but the OL has had more good games than bad. Adding Joe Thomas would add one aging ex-star & creating instability while giving up a young lineman and a #3.

Don't like the deal.

Adding him doesn't make our team better, it makes it worse. It's a dumb proposition. Joe Thomas is not better than Jared Veldheer. Thomas hasn't even played in a playoff game, not one. He hasn't played against very stiff competition, the best pass rushers in the entire NFL, the way Veldheer has. Adding him improves nothing and gets rid of a great LT who keeps his mouth shut and does his job quite well.

Thomas isn't even that good. Totally over-rated. He gets a lot of pass-protection stats because his team sucks and he's always pass protecting. But he's never played in big games, and never been required to pass protect in important games. He never even takes on the best pass rushers the league has to offer. He's not tested. And that's sad, given his career, but he's totally over-rated and untested in big game situations.

Veldheer is a grizzled, battle tested vet who is consistent. He's fought the best pass rushers the NFL has to offer.

 

[kerouac9]

Isn't his natural position LT? That's where he played in college & was a first team all american.

Freshman All-American. He wasn't that good his junior year.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Sometimes I think Floyd has a poor attitude because he's not the focus of the passing game but doesn't express it because he would end up in BA doghouse . I really expect Floyd to leave after this season and then expect to hear him trash the Cardinals .

From how his team mates react to him, to how he has been humble in any interview I have ever seen. I doubt seriously Floyd would talk trash about the Cardinals, his problems are mental lapses which have nothing to do with a poor attitude in relation to how he is used and that is a more important concern... give me one example of him having poor character since he has been a Cardinal

 

[Darkside]

Mental lapses = stupidity. It's 60 minutes every week they play a game. If he can't focus for that he's a *******.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Mental lapses = stupidity. It's 60 minutes every week they play a game. If he can't focus for that he's a *******.

And that is my concern watching him. He clearly wants to do well. His teammates support him and he supports them, but it's like the mental ability to focus is not consistent for no other reason than who Floyd is as a football player be it if he would care or not