I Think We Need To Franchise Carey

[JimToss]

Wow I bet that title got your attention.
Now here is my reasoning.
This thought basically stems completely from the Jordon Gross negotiations. Carolina is 100% resigning him. Gross and Carolina are in talks of 9mil/year. While that is probably now a reasonable number for Gross, it is not for Carey. However, Carolina resigning Gross, makes Carey the best tackle available in FA. (Not counting Clabo because he is a RFA) Which means he will be in ridiculously high demand, and therefore the center of a bidding war.

I also believe the draft will be picked clean of tackle prospects by the time pick #25 roles around. I could see even Britton (ZONA) and Beatty (UCONN) being gone by the time we pick (Oher,Smith and Monroe long gone.) I do not see the FO trading up.

This would leave the Dolphins with an enormous hole at RT. So we slap the tag on him. This gives us 3 more options.
1) It gives us a longer time to negotiate a long term contract with him exclusively.

2) He stays in Miami and we pay him the 8.5 mill for 1 year. By my estimates this would only be 2 million or so more then an extended contract would be. I beleive we can spend the bit extra because I highly doubt we completely hit our salary cap (~20mil free) this year regardless. Plus again we keep the line together and don't invite another hole. Also gives us a year to look for a replacement.

3) We pull the old tag and trade with him. Remember I am assuming tackles are in very high demand. Some teams may even recruit him to play LT as we saw he can do well in 2007. While another team cannot sign him unless they give up 2 1st round picks, we can trade him for less. If we would get an offer of a Top 25 pick (or better) I say he would be traded. The other team could agree in terms on a contract extension before hand, and we could take a gamble on a 1st round tackle. This way if we lose him, we at least get something for him.

So there it is...my opinion.
Good Idea or No?
Your feelings?

Please don't just come in saying "We need to get rid of Carey because he is terrible." If you do not believe he should be signed, offer a strategy for replacement.

 

[sadetripod]

Sounds good, I just hope he re-signs. I think we'll offer good money plus he's well established in Miami having played college and his whole pro career there. He's a solid RT and I've never heard of him being in trouble. He's a player we need to keep.

 

[Kdawg954]

Jordan Gross is being viewed as a franchise elite LT in the NFL. Vernon Carey is an above average RT who shows some versatility and can play LT in a pinch. Vernon did not help himself out last year, a year where he could have gotten potentially "Jordan Gross" money if he played better. He was overweight and he had an average year at best.

I wouldn't be too concerned, and I'm not a fan of franchising him. There are some solid OT's in this draft and if we must, we can get one to replace him. It is either long term deal or let go . . . I am more of a fan of franchising Bell and taking a stab at some safeties in the draft . . . that is me tho.

 

[Phishpunk@WCU]

Carey is a great RT and a great option to play 4 positions across the offensive line. If he really wants 5 million a season he is worth that.

 

[LibertineOneThree]

If this year's draft is anything like last year's, you're absolutely right in saying the second round will be devoid of tackles. Sam Baker at 25 or whatever it was. I would not be happy if we let Carey walk and spent our 1st on a Sam Baker calibre player.

 

[fatkirstyalley]

I agree 100%. looks like Gross is getting tagged and noone else out there would be an upgrade over Carey.

 

[pumpdogs]

I agree.The line was a weakness last year.If we keep carey and thomas turns out to be the real deal we will be in good shape.All we would need is some depth and a center that can get some push up the middle.

 

[JimToss]

Jordan Gross is being viewed as a franchise elite LT in the NFL. Vernon Carey is an above average RT who shows some versatility and can play LT in a pinch. Vernon did not help himself out last year, a year where he could have gotten potentially "Jordan Gross" money if he played better. He was overweight and he had an average year at best.

I wouldn't be too concerned, and I'm not a fan of franchising him. There are some solid OT's in this draft and if we must, we can get one to replace him. It is either long term deal or let go . . . I am more of a fan of franchising Bell and taking a stab at some safeties in the draft . . . that is me tho.

There is no doubt Gross is an elite tackle, and Carey is not. Your short chaning him tho, he is definately abetter then an above average RT. And yes, he came into the season looking like a slob and robbed himself of a good long term. That is part why I like the franchise tag option. I don't entirely trust his dedication to getting into playing shape. One year...no long term. And playing in another contract year. A weight clause in a contract would be nice.

I do not agree with franchisng Bell,but he NEEDS to be resigned. Adding another safety in the draft is a good idea either way. But, If you look at last years draft tackles came flying off the board. Baker was 2-3 rd prospect and was taken ~20th. My fear is people reaching like that again and the phins ending up with a huge hole. But if there is a T Parcells loves that will be around at 25 (or later) I'm OK with Carey walking, I just don't see that due to other teams reaching.

 

[fatkirstyalley]

There is no doubt Gross is an elite tackle, and Carey is not. Your short chaning him tho, he is definately abetter then an above average RT. And yes, he came into the season looking like a slob and robbed himself of a good long term. That is part why I like the franchise tag option. I don't entirely trust his dedication to getting into playing shape. One year...no long term. And playing in another contract year. A weight clause in a contract would be nice.

I completely agree with Bell and another safety in the draft. But, If you look at last years draft tackles came flying off the board. Baker was 2-3 rd prospect and was taken ~20th. My fear is people reaching like that again and the phins ending up with a huge hole. But if there is a T Parcells loves that will be around at 25 (or later) I'm OK with Carey walking, I just don't see that due to other teams reaching.

I completely disagree with franchising Bell. They are not about to pay him top 5 safety money....he is very good. But Atogwe is out there plus a few draft options....he needs to produce turnovers before he gets huge contracts. Dont get me wrong I love Bell, but lest we forget he does have an injury history and has had basically 1.5 productive NFL campaigns.

 

[JimToss]

I completely disagree with franchising Bell. They are not about to pay him top 5 safety money....he is very good. But Atogwe is out there plus a few draft options....he needs to produce turnovers before he gets huge contracts. Dont get me wrong I love Bell, but lest we forget he does have an injury history and has had basically 1.5 productive NFL campaigns.

Oops didn't see that I accidently agreed to franchising Bell. I thought he said resigning. I don't agree with that either for all your same reasons. My bad.

Things like this are how wars are started. I think I am going to have to edit my original post. Thanks for the spot.

 

[Kdawg954]

I was saying I rather franchise Bell than Carey, I would prefer to sign both to deals tho.

If we were not able to sign either to deals, I would prefer to keep Bell via franchise tag . . . over Carey.

 

[fatkirstyalley]

Oops didn't see that I accidently agreed to franchising Bell. I thought he said resigning. I don't agree with that either for all your same reasons. My bad.

Things like this are how wars are started. I think I am going to have to edit my original post. Thanks for the spot.

I mean franchising Bell is a viable option if a deal cant be reached and the FO doesnt believe the draft talent is strong in the draft. I would just rather use it on Carey. Make love not war

 

[juicifer1269]

Baker was 2-3 rd prospect and was taken ~20th.

Before the combine Baker had a mid-late 1st round draft projection. After an average combine and workouts, he slipped to late 1st-mid 2nd round. The only reason he was drafted at #21 was because ATL thought they could wait and get a T with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round but there were 4 OT picked before picks #12 and #19. They couldnt afford not to get a T and they had 3 2nd round picks.

 

[fatkirstyalley]

Before the combine Baker had a mid-late 1st round draft projection. After an average combine and workouts, he slipped to late 1st-mid 2nd round. The only reason he was drafted at #21 was because ATL thought they could wait and get a T with the 3rd pick in the 2nd round but there were 4 OT picked before picks #12 and #19. They couldnt afford not to get a T and they had 3 2nd round picks.

Any Dolphin fan in jacksonville gets a thanks from me. I agree with the Baker assessment...although I do think he was a bit overhyped because of his USC roots.

 

[islandah]

The problem with all these guys (Carey, Bell, and Crowder), is that they're decent to above average for their position, but not the truly elite to justify the big salaries they will likely demand. However, you have to realize that by letting them walk, you're taking an area of at least adequate, consistent talent, and making it yet another hole to fill on an already talent-thin roster. You need to look at what it will take to replace them and how confident you are in the abilities of the replacement. If you're going to replace them with a free agent, you're either going to pay a similar amount for similar talent that has to learn the system, or get less talent to save a few bucks and gamble that you found a diamond in the rough. And the draft is a gamble and we already have significant areas of need to address there.

So the big salaries, while they seem unreasonable based on this year's #'s, really will become the going rate anyway. None of these guys are old, they're in the peak of their careers(experienced but still relatively young), and replacing them is not as easy as you think. I like franchising Carey, because nobody will take him at that cost and it leaves you with a lot of options as stated, and 1 more year to address the existing desperate needs before creating more. And I'd try within reason to sign the other guys, even if the cost is a little past my comfort zone, because that will be the cost to replace them anyway.