NorthHawk wrote:According to Spotrac if we trade DK, we will get a $21M Dead Cap hit in 2025. As noted above, we are already struggling with getting the Cap in order. However, if we extend him we can significantly lower the Cap hit for a few years, just like the 49ers did with Ayuik.
This isn't anything new. Many players are on their last year of their contract, and taking trade offers are certainly something management would consider. Getting a 1st round pick would be something the Hawks would consider, even if it meant carrying over the cap hit into 2025. Teams do this all time. You are insinuating that the only option is to extend DK, considering his projected cap hit for 2025, and what if they don't work out a agreement? Cut him?
Let me explain the options for DK next season. Most of these options are unrealistic, but they are options.
So here are the realistic options
1) We work out an extension, which would inherently void his current contract and start fresh. Well considering the WR landscape has changed quite a bit in the last 2 to 3 years, and top WRs are getting massive guarantees surpassing the $100 mil guaranteed mark, would it be wise for the Hawks to tie up a lot of money into one player that some agree is elite, and some may not. Is he up there with the top 5 WRs in the league, well that's up for another debate? Far too often we have seen teams invest heavily into one player with a certain skillset, and that would avoid the opportunities to spend elsewhere. Do the Hawks see him in their long term plans? Is DK the type of person who would be modest and accept he isn't a top 3 to 4 WR and take less money, or does he feel he belongs in the $100 Mil+ guaranteed club? We can all agree the best players at their positions aren't always the highest paid. This will prove to be the most challenging avenue to take, considering a lot of factors will to go into this to make him the highest paid player on this team for 2025. If and extension is met he will be the highest paid player on the team going into 2025.
2) We field offers on trade. Again this is also challenging, as we would have to have teams out there are willing to take on his final year of earnings and be prepared to offer him a long term deal as they see fit. A team would have to value him high enough that they are willing to part ways with their draft capital. Yes we would take a cap hit, but that is cost of doing business to gaining draft capital, or player + pick combo. This is always an option as it clears way for the books to be clean for 2026 when players like Cross wants to sign, or possibly sign Spoon to a contract before his rookie option is up. Brandon Aiyuk negotiated at deal well before his rookie contract was up.
Here are the worst options:
3) We cut him to save cap money, and this would be stupid as we take the cap hit and get nothing in return, yet alone it is still something the Hawks could do. Highly unlikely.
4) We do nothing and let him play his last year out on the roster, and then he becomes an UFA next season and can sign anywhere. We get one more year with him, and he would probably be like Earl Thomas, and play disgruntled as he has no money going forward guaranteed.
5) We apply the franchise tag on him, but this is usually the death nail in a relationship between a player and organization. We are basically telling a player we know you have value and talent, but we aren't willing to pay you what you feel you are worth, but we don't want to share you with the rest of the league. So again if go this route, the relationship will be destroyed.
I would hope an extension can be worked out, but if he feels he is worth the $100Mil + guaranteed group, then I believe a trade would make more sense and we build our team elsewhere.
