Trade Fitzgerald to Denver

[Mitch]

There's no way the Cardinals should keep Fitzgerald if he won't restructure his contract. IF...by Friday Fitzgerald does not accept a contract that would make him the highest paid WR in the NFL (something I still don't believe he quite deserves)...trade him to Denver (assuming he would work out a long-term deal with them) for Denver's #1 pick in this year's draft (#12), their #2 pick in next year's draft, OLB/DE Tim Crowder (6-4, 275, Texas) and CB Domonique Foxworth (5-11, 189, Maryland).

Some of the rationale:

(1) The Cardinals already have the best possession WR in the NFL, IMO, in Anquan Boldin, and what they really need is a burner at WR opposite Boldin...more to come on that.

(2) Imagine the scrutiny Fitzgerald would be under if he refuses to re-structure and soaks up 1/6 of the team' salary cap, thus preventing the Cardinals from improving the team's chances, personnel-wise, to improve last year's 8-8 record. This could set the Cardinals back for many more years, seeing as other players would try to follow suit.

(3) By acquiring Crowder, who is just as good, if not better than Pace, the Cardinals can avouid having to shell out a double figure signing bonus to Pace, who does not deserve it after one solid year.

(4) Foxworth got a little lost in the Champ Bailey Dre Bly shuffle, but this kid can flat-out play. The Cards would do well to try to re-sign him as he is one year away from becoming a UFA.

(5) The Cardinals could then have the cap space to acquire LG Alan Faneca and RB Michael Turner and another pass rusher like DE Travis LaBoy.

(6) The draft then could look like this:

1A (#12): T Ryan Clady (6-6, 319, Boise St.). Imagine for the next four years a line of Clady-Faneca-Johnson-Lutui-Brown.

1B (#16): WR DeSean Jackson (6-0, 175, California). Lightning fast, exactly the compliment to Boldin the Cards need.

2 (#50): CB Tracy Porter (5-11, 185, Indiana). May be every bit as good as any of the top CBs in this draft.

3 (#81): DE/OLB Jason Jones (6-5, 262, Eastern Michigan). Another big, quick athlete to line up in the 3-4.

4: P Mike Dragosavich, North Dakota St. Having the extra draft pick allows the Cards to take their starting punter here.

5: FS Jamie Silva, Boston College. Tough as nails and surprisingly rangy.

6: BPA

7: BPA

 

[Brewster10]

There's no way the Cardinals should keep Fitzgerald if he won't restructure his contract. IF...by Friday Fitzgerald does not accept a contract that would make him the highest paid WR in the NFL (something I still don't believe he quite deserves)...trade him to Denver (assuming he would work out a long-term deal with them) for Denver's #1 pick in this year's draft (#12), their #2 pick in next year's draft, OLB/DE Tim Crowder (6-4, 275, Texas) and CB Domonique Foxworth (5-11, 189, Maryland).

Some of the rationale:

(1) The Cardinals already have the best possession WR in the NFL, IMO, in Anquan Boldin, and what they really need is a burner at WR opposite Boldin...more to come on that.

(2) Imagine the scrutiny Fitzgerald would be under if he refuses to re-structure and soaks up 1/6 of the team' salary cap, thus preventing the Cardinals from improving the team's chances, personnel-wise, to improve last year's 8-8 record. This could set the Cardinals back for many more years, seeing as other players would try to follow suit.

(3) By acquiring Crowder, who is just as good, if not better than Pace, the Cardinals can avouid having to shell out a double figure signing bonus to Pace, who does not deserve it after one solid year.

(4) Foxworth got a little lost in the Champ Bailey Dre Bly shuffle, but this kid can flat-out play. The Cards would do well to try to re-sign him as he is one year away from becoming a UFA.

(5) The Cardinals could then have the cap space to acquire LG Alan Faneca and RB Michael Turner and another pass rusher like DE Travis LaBoy.

(6) The draft then could look like this:

1A (#12): T Ryan Clady (6-6, 319, Boise St.). Imagine for the next four years a line of Clady-Faneca-Johnson-Lutui-Brown.

1B (#16): WR DeSean Jackson (6-0, 175, California). Lightning fast, exactly the compliment to Boldin the Cards need.

2 (#50): CB Tracy Porter (5-11, 185, Indiana). May be every bit as good as any of the top CBs in this draft.

3 (#81): DE/OLB Jason Jones (6-5, 262, Eastern Michigan). Another big, quick athlete to line up in the 3-4.

4: P Mike Dragosavich, North Dakota St. Having the extra draft pick allows the Cards to take their starting punter here.

5: FS Jamie Silva, Boston College. Tough as nails and surprisingly rangy.

6: BPA

7: BPA

Just wondering, which team in their right mind is gonna trade for him knowing he's got these outrageous contract numbers and has no interest in renegotiating to lower the financial burden?

 

[CardLogic]

The more of these scenarios I see, the less crazy it seems.

The big issue that remains, finding that team that is willing to make a blockbuster type trade. That and the Cardinals and Rod Graves having the huevos to pull it off!

 

[Mitch]

Just wondering, which team in their right mind is gonna trade for him knowing he's got these outrageous contract numbers and has no interest in renegotiating to lower the financial burden?

They can re-sign him to a long-term deal that is as cap friendly as they want. The deal would certainly huinge on that.

 

[CardLogic]

Just wondering, which team in their right mind is gonna trade for him knowing he's got these outrageous contract numbers and has no interest in renegotiating to lower the financial burden?

True finding that team is the key...

Some GM out there that thinks his team is just a stud WR away from the big prize!

 

[Jetstream Green]

I must admit

I like that plan of yours Mitch very much, at least it makes sense on paper or on the computer screen LOL. I hope Fitz thinks about the team and the outrageous amount of money the Cardinals still will pay him if he redoes his contract. If not, then we just can't have him eat up so much cap space. The only player in my opinion that deserves that kind of money might be a QB though I still have problems with that as well but we will see with Leinart in the future I hope if he proves to be what I think he can be- a franchise QB.

 

[Jetstream Green]

When in doubt, think Raiders, Redskins and Cowboys...I think they like the press hype more than the players they sign

 

[BigShtank]

No team will trade for those salary numbers. Cards will find a way to resign him, it's just a matter of when. I believe it will eventually be 6 yrs with 32 mil guaranteed.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I hope so BigShtank.

 

[NightHawk11and81]

The problem I see here: We don't need Michael Turner. We would be paying another free agent back big money along with Edge. Bad idea. If we're going to get a running back, DRAFT one.

Other than that, the deal would be acceptable to me.

 

[chicards11]

WOW -- cannt believe im saying this

After reading Mitch's post, I must say I too am on the wagon for trading away future HOF'er Larry Fitzgerald. People often forget.....if we sign Fitz to a monster extention....I highly doubt that Boldin stays with the Cards for longer than 2 more years.....which sucks. Its a catch 22 with me personally because I am a very big fan of both.

But to be able to have $$$ to sign depth this FA period and resign PAce and extend Dansby/AW and possibly Boldin.....I think we'd be on the right path.

Hurts alot to say it but Fitz must go!

 

[abomb]

Do we really need another thread on this?!?

 

[SuperSpck]

Mitch, I like Jason Jones a lot and glad to see him get some more attention.

I also like Cliff Avril of Purdue in the same role.

I'm not crazy about Jackson, he may be a burner but I'd rather see that high a pick invested back into the O Line or a RB. Swapping Fitzgerald for another WR seems like treading water.

Finally, I can't help but wonder, with the Broncos already having Walker, Marshall, and Stokley, what would their incentive to take on another WR be? Were one of these men released and I missed it?

More suitable trading partners would seem to be Dallas, Minnesota, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Philly, Tampa, Tennessee, or Washington.

 

[joeshmo]

After reading Mitch's post, I must say I too am on the wagon for trading away future HOF'er Larry Fitzgerald. People often forget.....if we sign Fitz to a monster extention....I highly doubt that Boldin stays with the Cards for longer than 2 more years.....which sucks. Its a catch 22 with me personally because I am a very big fan of both.

But to be able to have $$$ to sign depth this FA period and resign PAce and extend Dansby/AW and possibly Boldin.....I think we'd be on the right path.

Hurts alot to say it but Fitz must go!

I at first thought about Boldin as well in 2-3 years from now. But I think that should be a wait a see game at this point in time after thinking about. 2010 is looking to be a uncapped year and most likely a lockout by the owners until a new CBA gets done. Boldin and his contract seems like a lifetime away and we can cross that bridge when it happens.

Also just having the money in free agency doesnt mean we will actually spend it. The amount of quaility free agents in the current market that would be big upgrades are few and far between. Few free agents, 32 teams, lots of cap dollars to use, means an even 50% of even getting one of them and a 1% of chance of getting 3 of them. I think regardless of the Fitz situation we would only come out with depth players which we could still get with Fitz on the cap. The only thing it hurts is the re-signing of Pace whom I think has wanted to test free agency this whole time especially after Suggs and Allen got franchised he is now the primier 3-4 OLB prospect on the market.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Why would Denver make this deal? They have two very good WRs already in Javon Walker (who they traded a 2nd for 2 years ago) and Brandon Marshall (102 rec., 1300+ yards in 2007). Doesn't a deal have to make sense for both sides?

 

[Shane]

Why would Denver make this deal? They have two very good WRs already in Javon Walker (who they traded a 2nd for 2 years ago) and Brandon Marshall (102 rec., 1300+ yards in 2007). Doesn't a deal have to make sense for both sides?

 

[joeshmo]

Why would Denver make this deal? They have two very good WRs already in Javon Walker (who they traded a 2nd for 2 years ago) and Brandon Marshall (102 rec., 1300+ yards in 2007). Doesn't a deal have to make sense for both sides?

Arent they trying to trade Walker themselves so they dont have to pay a WR big money.

 

[lobo]

There's no way the Cardinals should keep Fitzgerald if he won't restructure his contract. IF...by Friday Fitzgerald does not accept a contract that would make him the highest paid WR in the NFL (something I still don't believe he quite deserves)...trade him to Denver (assuming he would work out a long-term deal with them) for Denver's #1 pick in this year's draft (#12), their #2 pick in next year's draft, OLB/DE Tim Crowder (6-4, 275, Texas) and CB Domonique Foxworth (5-11, 189, Maryland).

Some of the rationale:

Very nicely done and well thought out. If I was signing the checks I tell him and Parker to go and find a deal with someone and lets see what you find. Anyone recall the treatment A-Rod got in NY and STILL is subject to ridicule...he came back with his tail between his legs "begging" so to speak to come back. And of course his genius agent thought it wise to make his announcement in the middle of the WS. Fitz is great...no doubt...but is not the answer...Faneca and a real good CB would be differnece makers....and there would be money left over to find a few more good depth guys.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Arent they trying to trade Walker themselves so they dont have to pay a WR big money.

I don't know, but I have heard that they're trading for the Lions DT. The Broncos didn't lose because their offense stunk. The Broncos lost because their defense couldn't stop anyone on the ground. This trade makes no sense.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Arent they trying to trade Walker themselves so they dont have to pay a WR big money.

Walker is the one who wants to be traded. Denver may accomodate him. One thing for certain, and this applies to Fitz, no one is untouchable when it comes to trades. If Gretzky,Jabbar,Wilt, et al can all be traded, Fitz can. If we had Denver as a trading partner, i would ask for Walker, Foxworth, and this years #1 and,maybe, a #3rd. That's probably all we couold get out of them. That frees up space for Pace,Faneca, Brown, and some depth FA signings.Foxworth fills a secondary hole. Walker gives us a deep threat to go with Boldin( both FSU guys). Our draft could be Clady at 12, Mendehall at 16, and Porter at 50. In round 3 we select Jason Jones and Cliff Avril. Round 4 yields Jordy Nelson. As good as Fitz is, that trade would make us a far better team.

 

[Buckybird]

After reading Mitch's post, I must say I too am on the wagon for trading away future HOF'er Larry Fitzgerald. People often forget.....if we sign Fitz to a monster extention....I highly doubt that Boldin stays with the Cards for longer than 2 more years.....which sucks. Its a catch 22 with me personally because I am a very big fan of both.

But to be able to have $$$ to sign depth this FA period and resign PAce and extend Dansby/AW and possibly Boldin.....I think we'd be on the right path.

Hurts alot to say it but Fitz must go!

If you think Q stays for maybe 2 more years, why in the world would you want to get rid of Fitz? Makes no sense!!! The Cards have put themselves in a tough hole and probably will be saying adios to Q in a few years. Which WR would you rather have long term? I say Fitz because he is a true WR with more talent than Q. I love Q, but his gut and desire to be good make him the player he is. And don't forget ALL the injuries Q has had.

 

[SuperSpck]

Walker is the one who wants to be traded. Denver may accomodate him.

Didn't he want to be traded from Green Bay?

 

[DoTheDew]

What if your boss came to you and told you money was tight and they want you to take a significant pay cut in the short term, with the promise that you will be more likely to be with the company in the next few years. Would you instantly do it or would you take time to think about it and try to work out an agreement that both you and your boss are comfortable with?

This is what Fitz is going through and yea he is a millionaire already but it's still his life and he has the right to try and get himself a good deal, so lets all cut him some slack and stop accusing him of not being a team player. I think we should at least wait until free agency starts and his salary is hurting the team to make that accusation?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Didn't he want to be traded from Green Bay?

I think so.It was over a contract dispute because, are you listening Fitz, he blew out his knee before a new contract was done and Green Bay then didn't give him his big deal.

 

[Brewster10]

If we cant redo his deal, what makes anyone think the team that trades for him will be able to give him the money he wants guarenteed..

If u think it's easy to find a trade partner, u must not think much of the Cards negotiating team..