Emerging market for Freeney?
Nate Dunlevy points out that the injury to Terrell Suggs creates an opening in Baltimore for Dwight Freeney. Nate believes Freeney is headed elsewhere before the season begins:
Among the possible trade options open to the Ravens is Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney. Freeney has been repeatedly linked to trade rumors, and I believe he will be moved before the close of the preseason.
If the Colts can get anything of value for Freeney I believe they'll move him. Otherwise I see the team letting him play out his contract and taking the compensatory pick next year. There's little to be gained from a release as the $14 million they'd have in cap space wouldn't help--there's no one left to sign that would improve this roster dramatically.
Just to clarify, they won't get the comp. pick next year, it will be for the 2014 draft.
@gizzardfanny Problem is, that if they sign other free agents (like everyone expects), they won't get any comp pick for Freeney.
@Nate Dunlevy @gizzardfanny The expected Freeney comp pick won't be affected by any additional signings this year. The comp pick for that monster contract that Pierre Garcon signed is at risk with additional free agent signings.
@Go_Deep @gizzardfanny If they keep him, then they have to pay the $14 million if they can't trade him.
@Nate Dunlevy @gizzardfannyAll true I wasn't in the right mindset to respond to your post, I was thinking this year. I haven't started looking toward next off-season yet. I refuse to give up on this season already. I also expect significant free agent acquisitions next year and holding on to Freeney just to get a comp pick makes no sense.
If the organization believes that this year is already lost then trading Freeney for future picks or younger talent would be logical.
As a fan I would hope that they would at least wait until the season is a few weeks in before declaring the season lost, even with risking an injury to Freeney.
@Go_Deep @gizzardfanny Not true.
Comp picks are awarded the year after the F/A leaves and are offset by all signings that same offseason.
So, if Freeney stays and then walks after the 2012 season, comp picks are awarded based on the overall balance between all F/A gained and lost for the 2013 offseason. They will apply to the 2014 draft.
The loss of Freeney in 2013 is balanced by anyone Indy signs in 2013. Then, based on a variety of factors, after the 2013 season is done they award picks.
So if Indy signs free agents NEXT year, they won't get good comp for losing Freeney.
