Judging from Fitt's Comments, Reddick isn't coming back.

[grimesgoat]

13 minutes ago, stbugs said:

How is it a myth? That’s the average per year. You listed $7M paid year one and $4M year 2. That’s $5.5M per year with another $5.5M paid out in 2024. Again, $5.5M per year. No myth.

The signing bonus just makes the cap hit year 1 lower but every single dollar we pay will hit the cap at some point.

Also, we signed Arnold for $3M per year and he had far more production, getting a decent TE for $3M a year isn’t hard. Getting a Kelce, sure, but 18 reception TEs that can block aren’t commanding $5.5M per year.

In all likelihood, we will pay 11.5m spread over 3 years.  That will not kill us.  Someone actually complained they'd rather have Reddick, as if signing Thomas takes Reddick off the table.

Look I get the production issue.  Arnold wasn't brought here to be a blocker.  We paid 3m hoping for 40-400.  They think Thomas can give them something better if used (i.e. throw him the ball more than 1-2 times a game), plus he can block.

In 2018, when Olsen was hurt, Thomas put up 25-240 in the last 5 games.  Olsen was healthy in 2019 so he didn't get the looks, then in 2020-21 we never threw to the TEs.  If McAdoo's offense uses the TEs as pass catchers, I fully expect 45 catches and 400-500 yards.  That money will look all right if that happens.  If he doesn't hit those targets, then we'll know we overpaid.

Let's see it play out.

[Daddy_Uncle]

Now isn't the time to spend top dollar on veteran free agents 

[grimesgoat]

8 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Again, 3 years at $11.5M is misleading. He will only play 2 years so we would be paying him $5.75M per year. Paying <> cap hit. We will physically hand him $11.5M during the 2 years he is present.

Pushing some of the payments already made into 2024 as dead cap means we have 3 years of cap hits for 2 years of play.

Amazing that dead cap, which has been vilified in here is now a way to act like Thomas is only getting paid $4M a year. Maybe we can just put a full size cut out of him on the sidelines in 2024 and people will still think he’s here. Not like anyone would notice his 1 catch per game contributions.

No one can possibly know exactly what the production will be.  They don't pay someone for past production - especially if it does not line up with what they think the future production will be.  They think he can be a weapon and are paying for that belief. He showed potential when given the opportunity.  

But football is a tough life played by large people.  He could put up 50-500 or he could get hurt in training camp and miss 3 years.  That's why you don't fully guarantee all the money - so you can cut bait if things do not work out as you thought.  In this case, if they are wrong - they can save 5m of the 16.5 and move on.

In hindsight, salary often is out of balance with production.  If you have a way of traveling to the future and find out if their belief is wrong, let us know.  Otherwise you can wait it out like the rest of us.

[Michael G]

Re: Ian Thomas

IMO it is a mistake to pay first and expect production later. We flat out overpaid based on his body of work. Sure he could be capable of much more, but he should not be paid like he is a "Middle Tier Starting TE" (Fit's Words) until he is proven to be that. The contract details that I have seen say 3 years 16.5 Million with 8 million in  guaranteed money. 

That is too much for a guy whose been in the news negatively (so what if its nothing- its not a good look), and who has not yet produced up to his potential (for whatever the reasons are).

Its not a ton of money but it is money we could of used in other areas.