Trace was a free agent... I don't think we will let any of our "core" players get to that point. Probably couldn't afford it anyway with backloaded contracts. So if we rework their contracts, even the year before they become free agents, then no other team will be able to make them offers... as long as we keep them happy we should be able to keep them.. we are already paying them big $$ now, so I don't think it should be a problem.. Trace was good but expendable. as are a few of our others players..
Take Ogun for example.. if he has a huge year. like the Tampa game.. then we won't be able to hold him.. but our main guys should stay, unless they just get money hungry and won't have it... DG almost reached that point, then finaly restructured..
I think the core we have now are reasonable and hope we can keep them together for a while.. at least till they get a push from an upcoming star..