Pay Earl Thomas? Why? or even Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack at that

[Ricky Roma]

Cowherd's argument has some merit. The QB position in today's general era (2004-present) has more impact on wins and losses more than any era prior. I believe the league's position to shift rules in this direction went way too far, but that's another argument. If you have a true tier 1 QB - Rodgers/Brady/Garoppolo...heh - you pay them whatever, and you are more than just on your way. That team can just about win any game they are involved in. There is no other position...not even close...that makes that kind of difference.

Looking at the truely great defensive players from today's game, and they're not on the same level as a QB. Earl Thomas was at one point a true defensive superstar and the hub of what made Seattles defense as good as it was. I wouldn't pay him now, cause he's 30 and probably a descending player and Seattle is clearly in rebuild mode. Aaron Donald was the DPOY last year. The Rams defense was average, and their run defense was trash. Gurley was by far a more important player than Donald for the Rams...and he's not even the QB. JJ Watt was approaching all time status, but as been noted, nothing much came of it for the Texans. Mack? Gruden should've kept his trap shut, but he was correct. The Raiders defense was still garbage with him.

Having said that, I wouldn't have any issues if SF called up Oak and gave up their 1st+ next year for Mack, as he could be the guy to put the Niners over the edge.

Where I would disagree with Cowherd somewhat is that I think the big payments should be at the QB position only.

 

[Pure Steel]

Ziggy Ansah is 40 years old.



Colin Cowherd never even played kickball at recess.




Neither fact is relative to the other.

I'm guessing he was a prime target in dodgeball......

 

[Manster7588]

Cowherd's argument has some merit. The QB position in today's general era (2004-present) has more impact on wins and losses more than any era prior. I believe the league's position to shift rules in this direction went way too far, but that's another argument. If you have a true tier 1 QB - Rodgers/Brady/Garoppolo...heh - you pay them whatever, and you are more than just on your way. That team can just about win any game they are involved in. There is no other position...not even close...that makes that kind of difference.

Looking at the truely great defensive players from today's game, and they're not on the same level as a QB. Earl Thomas was at one point a true defensive superstar and the hub of what made Seattles defense as good as it was. I wouldn't pay him now, cause he's 30 and probably a descending player and Seattle is clearly in rebuild mode. Aaron Donald was the DPOY last year. The Rams defense was average, and their run defense was trash. Gurley was by far a more important player than Donald for the Rams...and he's not even the QB. JJ Watt was approaching all time status, but as been noted, nothing much came of it for the Texans. Mack? Gruden should've kept his trap shut, but he was correct. The Raiders defense was still garbage with him.

Having said that, I wouldn't have any issues if SF called up Oak and gave up their 1st+ next year for Mack, as he could be the guy to put the Niners over the edge.

Where I would disagree with Cowherd somewhat is that I think the big payments should be at the QB position only.

I quit reading after this.

 

[Clayton]

Analytics people are huge fans of Donald and probably would have extended him to a long contract a long time ago. Gurley is the guy that analytics people would be skeptical of.

Bellichick, on the other hand, would've traded Donald last year and replaced him with Suh and Brockers and gotten lots of draft picks.

Mack and Thomas are different situations imo.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I know some of you guys do not like Colin Cowherd but I like his work. So everyone is saying that each respective team of Thomas, mack and donald should pay them but why? Todays game favors the offense and you really just need a well coached defense that just knows how to play together and not have one guy eat up all the cap. Lets look at some of the highest paid defensive players this season.

1. Von Miller- great player, defense ranked 3rd last season.......Won 5 games
2. Eziekil Ansah- defense as a total ranked bottom 5 in the league, lions missed playoffs
3. Demarcus Lawrence- Almost half of Dallas losses came from the Elliot suspension and they could only average 7 points in those games. Shows that this team is built around Elliot and Dak and their offense
4. Fletcher Cox- success.
5. Olivier Vernon- Giants won 3 games
6. Justin Houston- Kansas City's defense is ranked bottom 3rd in the league
7. JJ Watt- Gets hurt every year the face of this team is now Deshaun Watson and Hopkins, in JJ's prime the Texans were barely a .500 team even with Andre Johnson. until Watson got there
8. Chandler Jones- Arizona missed playoffs and probably will again this year
9. Kawaan Short- Success
10. Marcell Darius- Success

Those players that were a success you can argue there are other plays that are reasons to why their teams are winnings such as Cam Newton and Carson Wentz.

Bottom line its better to invest your money in your key offensive players and better off not spending your cap fortune on certain defensive players.

The game has evolved some but not that much...you need a QB, you need to protect the QB, and you need a guy to get the QB on the ground...that still goes a long way in the NFL.

Most of these guys on your list qualify as get the QB on the ground types...Miller was the catalyst when the Broncos won the SB...not too long ago.

The others that are not on very successful teams are likely missing one of the other two key needs...QB or protecting the QB.

 

[CaptainStubing]

pass rushers are a prime commodity. that's why teams pay a lot for them. I will trust football coaches/management who do this for a living over Cowturd's opinion.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Analytics people are huge fans of Donald and probably would have extended him to a long contract a long time ago. Gurley is the guy that analytics people would be skeptical of.

Bellichick, on the other hand, would've traded Donald last year and replaced him with Suh and Brockers and gotten lots of draft picks.

Mack and Thomas are different situations imo.

I don't think BB would've spent the money on Suh either, but I do agree he would've traded Donald...probably for picks, and tried to leverage them for a top tier edge rusher or CB from the draft.

Spending premier money on a DT is dicey...even one that can pass rush.

 

[megalodon30]

1. Von Miller- great player, defense ranked 3rd last season

And Super Bowl MVP.

 

[Battlelyon]

Aaron Donald has that once in a generation talent, pay the man, but at what cost?

 

[seattlefan75]

Ok to be clear one thing everyone kinda skimmed over was the cap situation and my question is this...

Can you build a great team with a (singular) defensive player eating up a TON of your cap space. We all know if you pay one guy another guy has to be cut loose. IF the Rams decide to pay Donald all that money he is seeking there will be players that will be lost. Like @ATL96Steeler said is a DT worth the money? It didnt work for the Miami Dolphins and SUH. I wouldnt want to pay a 30 year old Earl Thomas you dont need an All Pro safety to go to a super bowl, the cardinals let go their pro bowl safety, dont get me wrong it helps but i think a middle linebacker that manages the defense would have more value

 

[seattlefan75]

The patriots go to super bowls year after year and I cant even name a great defensive player once Ty Law, Teddy Bruischi, and Richard Seymour left

 

[seattlefan75]

Hey the denver broncos were winning anything until they paid Peyton Manning all that money to come to Denver and once he retired that team hasnt been the same

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The patriots go to super bowls year after year and I cant even name a great defensive player once Ty Law, Teddy Bruischi, and Richard Seymour left

The Pats go to SBs a lot because they have continuity from GM/HC to OC to QB who is arguably the GOAT...i.e. they two of the 3 "must haves"...QB and OL.

imo one reason they didn't win it LY and were fortunate to win the last two they did win is lack of pass rush...both SEA and ATL had pretty good OFC games against them, just couldn't close the door.

The way the game is played now...you don't really need a great DT, but you do need that guy off the edge, LBs that can run and tackle, CBs that can cover and tackle. Once you find them, you can't keep them all, but to retain them you're going to have to invest some cap money on that side of the ball.

The Falcons are in a interesting position related to this topic...they have several young DEF players that will be coming off rookie contracts soon...they already paid the CBs big money...Grady Jarrett (imo their best DEF player, but he's a DT) is coming up next, then Vic Beasley after him, then Keanu Neal.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Hey the denver broncos were winning anything until they paid Peyton Manning all that money to come to Denver and once he retired that team hasnt been the same

Yes, but what was Peyton Manning the year they did win the SB...kind of an afterthought...right?

 

[Ricky Roma]

I quit reading after this.

No you didn't. You just jelly.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I know some of you guys do not like Colin Cowherd but I like his work. So everyone is saying that each respective team of Thomas, mack and donald should pay them but why? Todays game favors the offense and you really just need a well coached defense that just knows how to play together and not have one guy eat up all the cap. Lets look at some of the highest paid defensive players this season.

1. Von Miller- great player, defense ranked 3rd last season.......Won 5 games
2. Eziekil Ansah- defense as a total ranked bottom 5 in the league, lions missed playoffs
3. Demarcus Lawrence- Almost half of Dallas losses came from the Elliot suspension and they could only average 7 points in those games. Shows that this team is built around Elliot and Dak and their offense
4. Fletcher Cox- success.
5. Olivier Vernon- Giants won 3 games
6. Justin Houston- Kansas City's defense is ranked bottom 3rd in the league
7. JJ Watt- Gets hurt every year the face of this team is now Deshaun Watson and Hopkins, in JJ's prime the Texans were barely a .500 team even with Andre Johnson. until Watson got there
8. Chandler Jones- Arizona missed playoffs and probably will again this year
9. Kawaan Short- Success
10. Marcell Darius- Success

Those players that were a success you can argue there are other plays that are reasons to why their teams are winnings such as Cam Newton and Carson Wentz.

Bottom line its better to invest your money in your key offensive players and better off not spending your cap fortune on certain defensive players.

I think this is misleading.

I think the real question each team needs to focus on is if they are going to be competitive within the window of what they are going to pay any superstar. However, teams hope that they can sign these guys and build around them. You may assume you can afford to pay a huge salary to a DT like Donald, because the GM may anticipate the cap going up the following year(s) to then help retain other offensive players who will require a high amount of cap space as well.

Teams also need to be smart about spending money. Rarely does winning Free Agency lead to winning on the field/playoffs. Overpaying for a guy like Suh isn't going to help because they failed to address multiple areas of need. That goes for any kind of large payment (offense, or defense) to a player on any team.

The NFL is clearly an offensive driven league, but there is a reason that most of the teams that move on in the playoffs have a very reliable defense, often led by 1 or 2 players that make some decent money. Be it at DT, LB, CB, etc...Smoke and mirrors can work (see N.E.) but it is the exception, not the rule.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Aaron Donald has that once in a generation talent, pay the man, but at what cost?

He is, but I've always felt if a team really is intent on neutralizing an interior DL, they can...at least slow him down. As much as I like his skills, I'd be leery of giving any DT $18mil +

 

[Godstree]

chandler jones didnt miss the playoffs here tho. i wish he was still here:


he has a reedonkulous 28 sacks in 32 game with AZ.

That was awesome.

 

[Manster7588]

No you didn't. You just jelly.

No, I really did quit reading, I have no idea what else you said.

I tried to go back and read it again but had to quit at the same spot.

 

[Battlelyon]

How Aaron Donald impacts an offensive gameplan