Lets set aside our differing views on the construction of the 2026 version of the Colts to this point. We can do a lot of complaining or hyping, depending on your current level of satisfaction. Even though I am okay with the steps taken so far, I do not think that it is a stretch to say that we are all in agreement that we likely do not see an improvement to last year’s 8 – 9 record, unless we find another source of getting after the QB. Some think Hendrickson should have been that source, but he is not, so we have to turn somewhere else.
I’m not sure that even the most vocal Ballard detractors would include “liar” in their description of him. Usually after he makes a decision, you can go back and see that he told us what he was going to do. Sometimes, it is a bit cryptic, but I think you have to take “getting faster and younger on defense along the front seven” at his word. To me, that takes a few guys off of the board, including FAs Bosa and Riddick at 31 years old. It may also take some of the trade candidates (Sweat, Greenard, or even Crosby for that matter) out of the picture.
So, unless you know something that 31 teams do not know about and envision a difference maker at pick 47, you are likely only able to upgrade via trade. I mean, it would be great to have a first round pick, but according to Tankathon, there will be eight Edge rushers go off the board by the time we pick. Your sources may vary. It would take me too long to try and figure out who has been the 9th best DE/Edge drafted in any historical draft, so I won’t. I am guessing that there has been a useful player or two there, but we are going to need a big tic above useful. However, if you are so inclined to do that sort of research, I’d be happy to know the answer.
There are some difficulties in trading:
- You have to have a willing partner and have something that they want as well.
- Young Edges seldom hit the market, even when a team can’t afford them.
- The best of the best will cost upwards of 40 million per year to retain and we have around 27 to spend.
- A team willing to trade a difference making Edge, will want significant draft capital.
- We do not have significant draft capital.
- You probably have to find a bad team, or a team in real cap hell, before they pick up the phone.
If we can’t offer great draft capital, do we have players that could help bring a prize? I only have two names that I think someone might see as an asset, being Richardson and Kenny Moore. If those two guys are the box, who might be outside that box? Remember, your partner is either bad, or approaching the cap, so they won’t necessarily be looking for stars. Maybe other teams target players that they liked in the draft, as we say that we do. Is it possible that picking just after 45 last year, there was a big Tuimoloau fan? Maybe they would hit the reset and accept him as a chip towards a more established Edge.
Who are the teams that would pick up the phone and who do they have that could be that big piece we need.? The bad teams are the Raiders, Jets, Cards, Titans, Giants and Cleveland. Maybe the Saints as well. Who are the cash strapped? The Bears, Fins, Giants, Panthers, Vikings, Jags and Saints. A quick cross-reference sees the Giants and Saints in both groups, so lets start there. The Saints really do not provide a good match for us, based on Chase Young’s Dead Cap hit and Granderson’s age.
As for the Giants. On the surface, this looks like a good match, as they have four defensive linemen (three Edge) among their nine highest paid players. They also are 30th on the list of remaining cap space. This is while only currently paying Abdul Carter a bit over 10 million. Dealing Burns would seem like a good idea, but he has a dead cap of 57 million, so he would cost them more to not have him play for them.
Thibodeaux is another target. He fits the younger bill (also ran a 4.58 at the combine) and he will be hard for the Giants to keep after this year, unless they clear a whole lot of cap space by then. The problem with him is that he has underperformed as the 5th pick in the 2022 draft. He’s missed 15 games during his four seasons, although he did top out at 12 sacks during his lone fully healthy season. The Giants likely picked up the 5th year option as a way to recoup some capital, once they move on from him. Another sticking point is that teams hate to get a reduced value from their first picks and Joe Schoen may have a bigger target on his head than Ballard.
Another factor in a Thibodeaux trade is Harbaugh as the new HC. I’m sure that he did not take the job, without some assurance that he would be buying some of the groceries. He’s been better when his defense is the catalyst, so his vision of how to use “Thibs”, is probably the deciding factor on whether he is available or not. It appears as though the fans are ready to see him go for a late 3rd or early 4th round pick. https://gmenhq.com/new-york-giants-should-sprint-to-phone-if-this-kayvon-thibodeaux-offer-is-real
Is this the guy you want to pin your hopes on? CB has backed himself in the corner of having a huge need and enough money to make it happen. If he can’t bring in someone who elicits some hope as a force in the passing game, he may not only not survive the season, he might not survive a poor start. He made a swing at the trade deadline last year and the situation calls for it to happen again now. As I look at the landscape of available players from my perch on the cheap seats, I think he is the best combination of youth and upside that is now, or will become available.
At what price? I am going to include one of the guys I mentioned earlier in Kenny Moore. Signing Britt and having a healthy Wally would suggest that we were dealing from a position of strength. Harbaugh always seems to get the most from his secondary players and Moore’s veteran presence would likely play well there. Maybe if added to a 4th, the Giants might like our offer among those that they are sure to get or have already received.
So, my offer is Kenny and a 4th for Thibs. I extend his contract to use up a lot of our cap space this year and keep it manageable in the coming years, since the reverse has been true for most of the other contracts. It comes with risks, but it is a swing at a younger, faster player on the front 7.
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