So, why couldn't we tag and trade Trey, for a Sneed-like 3rd in 2025, or 2026?
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I'd say... let them both walk.

Spend the money in FA at positions that make a bigger impact.

There are some free agent tackles that I would try to pay if given the chance over Trey Smith. Cam Robinson, Garrett Bolles, Jedrick Wills, Ronnie Stanley, Joe Noteboom.

There are pass rushers I'd focus on first, too. If Omenihu looks recovered or close to it, I'd prioritize signing him over signing Bolton for sure. Josh Sweat would be an interesting addition if he hits the market. Etc.
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You aren't getting a 3rd back for him when he will be on a $23-25m-ish tag.

You might however get a 3rd round comp pick if he walks.
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We need to let both walk.

Bolton has taken a half step back and unfortunately needs to be in the Top 3 of his position to justify a second contract. I recommend re-watching our 2022-2023 playoff games. Bolton was everywhere, and I mean everywhere. I had forgotten just what a constant force he was on nearly every play. Since his wrist injury, he occasionally has put together a game like that, but it seems like he might just be a half-step more timid compared to his 2022 form. I love Bolton, but I do not think his position (even if he’s in the Top 10 at the position) justifies a second contract.

But, Spags really, really values the QB of his defense (it’s why we played an unplayable Hitchens a season too long), so we’ll see how it shakes out.
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Don't forget that he had Gay running shotgun and taking the sideline to sideline responsibility then. Now he has Tranquil who's a very smart player but a clear step (probably two steps) slower and less athletic than Gay.

Losing Willie has exposed Bolton, IMO. I'd be fine letting Bolton walk, signing Gay in the off-season for the Will role and putting Tranquil at Mike.
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I’m still bewildered about how we handled Gay. He was a pretty big cog in our gameplan against significant rivals (the Ravens and Bills) and that alone seems like it should have justified us matching NOLA’s deal with him. NOLA did have him as a healthy scratch early in the year, so maybe there really is more than meets the eye there?
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He's a freelancer and sometimes a bit of an idiot.

Those guys drive coaches crazy. Because they believe that any breakdown in a defense must be execution rather than scheme.

So when they see a guy leave the scheme to make a play, it barely registers. But when that guy fails to execute within the scheme and the defense fails, they don't think of it as the flipside of the coin, they think of it as proof that said player isn't an asset.
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I could see how he could rely on his talent to cover up those lapses, especially to fans who know none the wiser.

It’s crazy that it takes a complete unhinged maniac like Todd Haley to straighten some of those guys out, but damn it if DJ didn’t transform into an elite backer after a year of being on Haley’s shitlist.
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When making tough decisions in life, I like to set up a decision matrix. It has helped me make important choices when it comes to jobs, relationships, finances, etc...

• First, I write out all possibilities on one axis.
• Second, on the other axis, I list out all of the factors/variables that I should take into account.
• Third, I weight each factor. For example, if the factor is very important, I give it a 1-15 score. If the factor is not very important, I give it a 1-5 score. For the others, I give it a 1-10 score.
• Last, I go through the rubric and assign each intersecting box a score.

At the end I tally the scores up, and more times than not, the correct decision is in front of me.


Possibilities to consider:

Option 1: Re-sign both
Option 2: Re-sign Trey, Let Bolton Walk
Option 3: Re-sign Bolton, Let Trey Walk
Option 4: Re-sign Trey, Tag/keep Bolton
Option 5: Re-sign Bolton, Tag/keep Trey
Option 6: Let both walk
Option 7: Tag & Trade Trey, Let Bolton Walk
Option 8: Tag & Trade Bolton, Let Trey Walk
Option 9: Tag & Trade Trey, Re-sign Bolton
Option 10: Tag & Trade Bolton, Re-sign Trey

Factors to consider:

- Who has the most upside remaining over the life of a new deal?
- Who has the most impact on future seasons' performance (accounting for their quality of play, their leadership, their intelligence, their athleticism, their positional value)?
- Who is the most reliable from a health standpoint over the life of a new deal?
- Who is the most replaceable (accounting for current roster, FA, or draft)?
- Who is the most affordable?
- Who is the most flexible when it comes to a team-friendly deal structure?
- What is the impact on the ability to retain other players who need contracts (McDuffie, etc...)


If I don't like the output it gives me, I start to see what other reasonable elements (that I control) I can add to the options, and run it through the rubric.

Example: "Restructure X other player + Option 1,2,3..."

If I still don't have a reasonable output, it usually means I need more information, which changes the question, so I do more rubrics.

"If I'm able to sign X player from FA before I make this decision, how does it change the score?"

"If I'm able to draft X player before I make this decision, how does it change the score?"
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It's not exactly a secret he isn't the brightest bulb, yeah? Dude managed to get a 4 game suspension fighting a vacuum cleaner.
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I’d be okay if he fought a dishwasher if he’d agreed to a 1 yr/6 million deal with us.
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