2014 salary cap....and the money we have

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by HailGreen28

Assuming these numbers are right, I like comparing salaries here: LINK

Looking at the link above and at the highest paid OLB LINK....

I really want to keep our own talent, but I don't think Rak is worth more than $10mil a year.

I think Orakpo is a fit in every scheme, but the good news I think is that the 4-3 teams are going to have a hard time pushing themselves past 8 or 8.5 million a year for a sam linebacker. Jacksonville or Seattle are the obvious exceptions. If Oakland loses Lamarr Houston, they're in as well.

The 3-4 teams would obviously be willing to go to 10 or 11 for Orakpo, but I'm not sure how many established 3-4 teams are short a pass rusher. Cleveland has cap space, but they just invested in Mingo and Kruger last year. The Bears are a threat once they release Peppers. The Colts aren't going to part with Mathis, so they're not in on it. Ditto Suggs and the Ravens. Woodley and the Steelers. The Packers and Matthews. The Jets are a real threat though. As are the Patriots, but they can be priced out at $10 million.

I think those are the biggest threats for Orakpo: Seattle, Jacksonville, Chicago, and the Jets. We should be able to make best offer. But it might go to $11 million.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think Orakpo is a fit in every scheme, but the good news I think is that the 4-3 teams are going to have a hard time pushing themselves past 8 or 8.5 million a year for a sam linebacker. Jacksonville or Seattle are the obvious exceptions. If Oakland loses Lamarr Houston, they're in as well.

The 3-4 teams would obviously be willing to go to 10 or 11 for Orakpo, but I'm not sure how many established 3-4 teams are short a pass rusher. Cleveland has cap space, but they just invested in Mingo and Kruger last year. The Bears are a threat once they release Peppers. The Colts aren't going to part with Mathis, so they're not in on it. Ditto Suggs and the Ravens. Woodley and the Steelers. The Packers and Matthews. The Jets are a real threat though. As are the Patriots, but they can be priced out at $10 million.

I think those are the biggest threats for Orakpo: Seattle, Jacksonville, Chicago, and the Jets. We should be able to make best offer. But it might go to $11 million.

Rak in Seattle is a scary thought. He would probably realize his potential there.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think Orakpo is a fit in every scheme, but the good news I think is that the 4-3 teams are going to have a hard time pushing themselves past 8 or 8.5 million a year for a sam linebacker. Jacksonville or Seattle are the obvious exceptions. If Oakland loses Lamarr Houston, they're in as well.

The 3-4 teams would obviously be willing to go to 10 or 11 for Orakpo, but I'm not sure how many established 3-4 teams are short a pass rusher. Cleveland has cap space, but they just invested in Mingo and Kruger last year. The Bears are a threat once they release Peppers. The Colts aren't going to part with Mathis, so they're not in on it. Ditto Suggs and the Ravens. Woodley and the Steelers. The Packers and Matthews. The Jets are a real threat though. As are the Patriots, but they can be priced out at $10 million.

I think those are the biggest threats for Orakpo: Seattle, Jacksonville, Chicago, and the Jets. We should be able to make best offer. But it might go to $11 million.

We have absolutely no excuse for not getting 'Rak back. We have the money to spare so unless he goes Chris Johnson on us and demands to be the highest-paid player in football, we have the cap room to beat anyone else's offer.