Seriously though what the hell were they thinking picking up Darnold's 5th year option?

[BrianS]

28 minutes ago, firefox1234 said:

But then what explains the lack of OL investment if they believe in Sam. It was clear that is what let him down the most in NY, why didn’t we try to make things different for a guy we evaluated.

This is a good point, but it's independent of picking up the fifth year.

One thing I've always thought would be fascinating is if every team would release their final draft board after the draft was over.  I know it will never happen, but it could really explain a lot about those choices that we as fans just don't get.

[firefox1234]

1 minute ago, BrianS said:

This is a good point, but it's independent of picking up the fifth year.

One thing I've always thought would be fascinating is if every team would release their final draft board after the draft was over.  I know it will never happen, but it could really explain a lot about those choices that we as fans just don't get.

Is it really? Picking up his option is a bit of a vote of confidence this guy can potential be that guy in some shape or form. So one would think you do everything possible to make sure he is in the best position to succeed. Especially if you consider we gave Sam no competition on top of that either by drafting a rookie or bringing in a quality vet back up.

[PanthersGTI]

Probably a couple of things :

A) They think if themselves as teachers who can take raw talent and get solid production out of them. Darnold has the physical talent. That boy can THROW. Thinking they could get him into their locker room and build him up.

 

B) They moved all in on Brady, thinking if he had a QB with the ability/willingness to air it out the offense would come together. Turns out, Brady ain't it. Don't know why he is the way he is but it's not working. Too confident? Too green? Just not good? 

They just got over confident in their abilities as a whole and if everything went right Sam would be at least average this year and take a step next year with a hopefully solidified Oline and a system he can work in. Problem is nothing went right. Brady fell on his face. The Oline can barely have an average day. All in all, they just put Sam in a SLIGHTLY better spot then he was in with the Jets. They fuged the poor kid, he needed something solid to build on.

 

[TheCasillas]

Someone mentioned there was an out on the 5th year option. So I elected to read the 2020 CBA on Rookie Contracts, and I found some interesting pieces in there.

This one was the most interesting:

When a team exercises the option, it becomes guaranteed for injury only. If the player is on the team’s roster at the start of the League Year in his option season, his salary becomes fully guaranteed for skill, cap and injury.

The payments are not considered Rookie Salary and do not count toward league or club rookie pools or allocations. The player’s option-year salary is also not subject to the 25% Rule.

 

So, after reading this, does that mean the Panthers can cut Darnold after this season, and we don't have to pay it? or even if we trade him to another team does it get paid (Brock Osweiller/Teddy Bridgewater/Nick Foles type of trade)?

 

source

Edited November 12, 2021 by TheCasillas

[Waldo]

57 minutes ago, firefox1234 said:

Thanks, and I just started sleeping better…

Hey, we all get a break at least for the rest of the year. When they draft a QB, and they need to, that's when we get to see if they learned anything or not from this debacle. 

[Wes21]

55 minutes ago, firefox1234 said:

Okay. So in the rare chance he looks good you tag him. Washington Football Team did it to Cousins multiple times….

I wouldn't plan on tagging a certain guy if you can find another way.  When you place the tag on Sam that means you don't have the tag for another player...or even the threat of the tag...to bring him to terms on a new agreement.  Someone like Donte Jackson, or a year later Brian Burns.

[firefox1234]

6 minutes ago, Wes21 said:

I wouldn't plan on tagging a certain guy if you can find another way.  When you place the tag on Sam that means you don't have the tag for another player...or even the threat of the tag...to bring him to terms on a new agreement.  Someone like Donte Jackson, or a year later Brian Burns.

I get the logic of wanting to save the tag but what better position to save it for than the most important one on the team.

[Catsfan69]

1 hour ago, firefox1234 said:

True but as someone mentioned already it’s really the picks lost that’s a bummer cause we will probably only have a slightly better OL next year if not just as bad unless we get lucky…

But didn't we recoup everything but the 2nd in other trades?

[firefox1234]

4 minutes ago, Catsfan69 said:

But didn't we recoup everything but the 2nd in other trades?

Yea I believe we got a 4th and 6th back. 

[Evil Hurney]

7 minutes ago, Catsfan69 said:

But didn't we recoup everything but the 2nd in other trades?

We "basically" recouped the picks. During the draft the Panthers were able to add a 3rd, 4th, and 6th (plus several other picks). I've only listed the ones relevant to "paying off" the Darnold trade.

While they didn't add a 2nd they did add a 3rd in the current year. Generally a 3rd in the current draft is worth a 2nd in a future draft; the 2nd that was given to the Jets was in a future draft (the upcoming one).

[Evil Hurney]

2 hours ago, Sean Payton's Vicodin said:

I can kind of see why they traded for him, hoping that he was another diamond in the rough mistreated by Adam Gase like Tannehill was, but why did they pick up his 5th year option before even playing a snap????

A team that likes a player enough to give up a 2nd + extras probably also likes that player enough to use the 5th year option on them. They are expecting that player to be around more than 1 year so they are taking a risk to save a significant amount of money in a future year. If Darnold had continued his pace from the first 4 games we'd be looking at extending him for ~$30M a year.

[run-run-pass-punt]

1 hour ago, BlackPanther21_ said:

You have to wonder how many horrible blunders at the games most important position Tepper will allow before he starts firing people.

I think we could have done better to address the position (Trubisky/Minshew), but realistically the pickings were slim. You can only work with the options available to you. It's hard to fault a staff when there aren't many (or any) legitimate options imho.

Edited November 12, 2021 by run-run-pass-punt

[hepcat]

50 minutes ago, TheCasillas said:

Someone mentioned there was an out on the 5th year option. So I elected to read the 2020 CBA on Rookie Contracts, and I found some interesting pieces in there.

This one was the most interesting:

When a team exercises the option, it becomes guaranteed for injury only. If the player is on the team’s roster at the start of the League Year in his option season, his salary becomes fully guaranteed for skill, cap and injury.

The payments are not considered Rookie Salary and do not count toward league or club rookie pools or allocations. The player’s option-year salary is also not subject to the 25% Rule.

 

So, after reading this, does that mean the Panthers can cut Darnold after this season, and we don't have to pay it? or even if we trade him to another team does it get paid (Brock Osweiller/Teddy Bridgewater/Nick Foles type of trade)?

 

source

I mean if THIS is the case then picking up the option was a no brainer. It's a no risk high reward situation if he pans out. 

[Evil Hurney]

Just now, run-run-pass-punt said:

I think we could have done better to address the position (Trubisky/Minshew), but realistically the pickings were slim. You can only work with the options available to you. It's had to fault a staff when there aren't many (or any) legitimate options imho.

Agreed. They tried to get Stafford. They tried to get Watson. They looked a drafting a QB until the 49ers traded up ensuring that we would at best be getting the #4 guy.

Options at that point weren't great.