Chris Cooley for a 1st and a 3rd -- would you do it?

[BigHairedAristocrat]

First of all, I don't understand why some people here don't think anyone would give up a 1st and a 3rd for Cooley. The Falcons gave up a 2nd round pick for a 33-year old tony gonzalez. Cooley's also a pro-bowler, but he's 6 years younger. A team considering drafting a tight end with their first round pick would most certainly trade that same pick for Cooley. If its a high 1st rounder, i don't think wed get any additional compensation for him. however, if its a lower 1st rounder, then i absolutely think we could get a 3rd as well.

That said, I think Davis (due to his MUCH smaller contract) would actually garner more interest on the market, although i don't think he'd get us more than a 2nd rounder in terms of compensation. And if we were going to let him go for a 2nd rounder, then why use a 2nd rounder to draft him in the first place? that basically would mean we would have traded our 2008 2nd rounder for a 2010 second rounder - not much return on our investment there. If that were the compensation, i'd rather just keep them both.

Cooley's my favorite player, but i have to ask myself, WWBBD? - What Would Bill Belichek Do? He wouldn't be sentimental about it. He'd keep Davis, trade Cooley for a 1st and 3rd, trade the first for two 2nds, use the 2nd round picks on starting-caliber linemen and then use the 3rd on a young TE to groom behind Davis. Given the opportunity (capless 2010), that's what i'd do.