The significance of Ealy pick

Was thinking about the significance of the Ealy pick. The derivatives of this pick could be franchise altering. We've brushed on this before, but IF he turns out to be a first round DE talent, I think there's a >50% chance that either CJ or Hardy is not on the roster at this time next year. And I'd almost bet it would be CJ that would be gone, assuming we can get Hardy locked up.

Just that frees up a bunch of cap space (not familiar with CJ's contract but it's been a few years so I'm assuming a trade of CJ is a net positive to our cap even if there is a decent amount of dead money).

The implications are huge. With a cap windfall like that, plus the other moves already in the works, we can sign Hardy, Cam, Luke AND still have some significant $$ to improve the roster at other positions next year. And CJ probably has enough value to trade for some decent draft picks.

Again, that all assumes we're good with turning over the keys at one of the starting DE spots to Ealy....As I think about it, it feels like something the Pats (or another one of the well run franchises) would do.

 

I think that always true even if we didn't draft a DE.

 

Yeah, I've been saying that since well before the draft. Either Hardy or Charles Johnson will not be with the Panthers in 2015.

 

No and no. Any cap space gleaned from DE will be eaten by Cam's new deal, which will undoubtedly make him one of the highest paid players in the league. Meanwhile you only get "decent draft picks" for great players. Given Johnson's contract, I think you'd only get a 5th or 6th round pick for him if that.

 

I mean the guy was mentioned all over here as a 1st round talent. True it's not a position of need but as Collin and others have said, there is a real chance CJ or Kraken won't be here next year. Between Cams new contract, the RB duo and both of the DEs someone has to go

 

Sadly true.

 

Yeah they are not paying that again for two DEs. Taking one that early was not a surprise. I wouldn't have been shocked had we taken one in the 1st depending on what was there. That GM will pay Cam and Luke and whoever he drafts, the Hurney guys, gravy train is over.

 

The cap is reportedly going up 10 million next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the RBs designated as a June 1 cut NEXT year

 

Designating Stewart a June 1st cut after this season would save $4.5 million against 2015 but push $7.3 million against the 2016 cap. So essentially it would cost $11.8 million to have him not be on the roster anymore as opposed to $8.3 million in 2015 if he stays on the roster.

Designating Williams a June 1st cut after this season would save $2 million against 2015 while pushing $2.266 million against the 2016 cap.

 

Bingo