Stay, Go or Restructure- DE Cameron Wake

[So Be]

Stay, go or restructure: DE Cameron Wake
Experience: Seven seasons
2015 stats: Nine tackles, seven sacks
2016 salary/cap charge: $8.4 million/$9.8 million
Analysis: This will be a very tough decision for Miami. Wake played in just seven games this season before tearing his Achilles tendon in a loss to the New England Patriots. He will be 34 at the end of this month, and the Dolphins likely will have to make a decision on Wake’s $8.4 million salary well before he’s 100 percent healed. Wake met with the media after the team’s regular-season finale and said he’s confident he will return “better than ever” after the injury. The four-time Pro Bowler had seven sacks in seven games and was on his way to another double-digit sack season. Wake also provides much-needed leadership in Miami’s locker room. But it remains to be seen if this justifies Wake’s high salary.

This is the second in a series from ESPN looking at Miami's difficult decisions this off season.

 

[fisi]

Cam will be restructured, he will be relegated to pass-rush specialist to be used on obvious passing downs. he will get 4 or 5 mill laden with incentives and cap friendly. but be warned: it is down hill from hereon.

 

[xXwarXx]

IMO we owe him whatever he wants. But I believe he will restructure.

I mentioned this in another thread, but its pretty clear he had a grade 1 tear before the season even started. Him and the entire staff knew it Would fully tear if he played on it, which is why they tried to limit his snaps.

And he did it anyway. His career may in fact be over.

Cam is a soldier, you give that man whatever he wants IMO.

 

[So Be]

Tuff choice here. If you do not love Wake for who he is and what he has done, you are not a Phan. However, a pass rush past Suh is a puzzle for the team with Cam's age, injury and cap hit a problem. Unless you believe t6hat taking Lawson at #1 is the answer, our best option would be signing Vernon to a long term deal which would allow keeping Wake, at a reduced contract for this year, with a cheap first year for OV. This would be my best choice.

If we lose OV, we will likely keep Wake and face the problem again next year.

 

[SoCal Finatic]

IMO we owe him whatever he wants. But I believe he will restructure.

I mentioned this in another thread, but its pretty clear he had a grade 1 tear before the season even started. Him and the entire staff knew it Would fully tear if he played on it, which is why they tried to limit his snaps.

And he did it anyway. His career may in fact be over.

Cam is a soldier, you give that man whatever he wants IMO.

As much as I love Cam, and what he has meant to this franchise this is a business. Unfortunately you pay someone based on future performance, not past performance. I hope they restructure and he regains at least some of his form. It would be great if we could retain him as a pass rush specialist, although I don't know if we have room for that.

 

[uk_dolfan]

Restructure, but if he doesnt want to play in another bad D and wants to go win a ring for an elite team he would have my blessing. Plenty of reasons why he might not want to stay here for less money

 

[Austin Tatious]

Restructure. Let him be a situational rusher a la Trace Armstrong. I think he can give you two years of that. He's a high character guy, great role model for younger players, and a team guy. We need guys like that around. True warrior and a Dolphin.

 

[SQuinn17]

Restructure, but if he doesnt want to play in another bad D and wants to go win a ring for an elite team he would have my blessing. Plenty of reasons why he might not want to stay here for less money

I think he stays but if he goes to a contender I won't be mad whatsoever as long as it isn't NE.

 

[Travis34]

For me, its easy- restructure. He has said he will. He clearly wants to finish his career a Fin. Let him. I bet he'd even take a pay cut instead of a restructure. He's a truly classy person

---------- Post added at 01:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 PM ----------

I mentioned this in another thread, but its pretty clear he had a grade 1 tear before the season even started. Him and the entire staff knew it Would fully tear if he played on it,

How do you know this??? Just asking

 

[AL R]

This will be one to ponder for sure but I do think the decision will be made in relation to how OV, Shelby etc situations play out... restructure is a possibility but then we are probably going to add money to a back end of a deal that we may never see Wake on the filed for so it may end up counting against us for the cap down the road. They may be ok with doing something like that for Wake because of the type of player he has been, maybe, even though it might not be the best business decision.

How many more years could he play for realistically at a fairly high level even if he comes back well from the injury maybe 2? 3 would probably really be pushing it.

 

[Kingdom Come]

If it were me, I would sign him to a 22 mil 5 year extension and drop his cap number in 2016 to nil. Cam is in great shape and is a freak athlete in a class almost of his own. If he really wanted to, I think he could be an effective situational pass rusher until he is 40 if he could stay reasonable healthy.

Get well Cam Wake; and may you intimidate QB's and offensive linemen for many more years to come.

 

[AL R]

Here is an interesting article - (it's a long one)..

Conclusion: Age 30-plus pass rushers can be very effective.

Well, beyond how long a good chunk of the NFL's legendary pass-rushers played, I was surprised at the way most of them were able to maintain effectiveness at 30-plus years old.

Before crunching these numbers, I was expecting somewhat of a sharp drop in production at around age 30, 31 or maybe 32. But edge-rushers -- especially the finest ones -- have rare powers of longevity because so much of how they get to the quarterback is dependent upon refined fundamentals like footwork and, probably most importantly, hand usage.

Even if an elite pass-rusher doesn't explode off the snap with thunderous force at 34 like he did when he was 24, chances are he's a wily, master craftsman with his hands when it comes to creating leverage and countering the opposing offensive lineman. Also, strength likely isn't an issue, and he almost assuredly knows how to properly handle the rigors of a grueling 16-game regular season.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...-elite-pass-rushers-productive-into-their-30s

 

[MARINO1384]

Restructure and hopefully get him for 4-5 million. Throw age out the door. Look at the man, he's a freak athlete that keeps his body in excellent shape. I have no doubt he'll be back plus he seems like a guy thats loyal and wants to be in miami. Miami took a chance on him and made him into an nfl superstar and i think he'll keep that in mind and be a team player and restructure.

 

[NorFlaFin]

Restructure knowing that Father Time is undefeated. If he wants a trade to contender you make the trade on his terms.

 

[FSU Truth]

Clone...is that an option?