Waiting another year or two isn't the worst idea. Obviously, teams don't wanna get involved in a huge contract and then see the player detract or get injured. If DK puts up 900 yards, 7 TDs this year and 1000 yards 8TDs next year, you can forget about contract leverage. U can forget about $7mil also. Overall inflation and his FA value can potentially hit $8-10mil. Call me crazy just like when I said DK will get around $6mil. DK does have leverage in contract talks. Jets don't have a proven TE to step inside to cover for him. DK won't be playing for peanuts this year. He can sit on the $3mil and play for FA next year. If he gets tagged, he'll know he'll get $6-7 mil anyways. He's gonna get his big pay check this year or the next. It'll be in the Jets best interest to sign him this year. Including 2012, DK can be easily had for 4 years $20-22 mil with $12 guaranteed. He's going to get $11m in the next two anyways. Both parties remain in good position. Adding a 5th year can cost another $8mil making it 5yr $30 mil. And let's be honest. You don't have an extra first rounder for his replacement and finding his replacement via FA makes no sense when u can have DK at the same price if not much cheaper. Maybe there is hometeam discount in there. Maybe he'll sign a cap friendly 5 years $24 mil. Who knows. Again, for those that claim he's a useless blocker, stop reading what others mention here. He's an 'adequate' blocker who has one of the best hands in football. He won't WOW you with his blocking, but I can't recall a time last year where I went "WTF Keller, what are you doing there? You're a turnstile out there!".
I don't know what YOU mean. Never heard of pawn stars. Best I can do means I think that's the best argument of what to do with Keller despite the fact that it basically means the Jets see him walk in two years and have to tag him next year. But the other alternatives are worse.
He may have one of the best hands in football but it's his other one that causes all the problems....j/k. (Couldn't resist)
Re-signing Keller makes sense to me. The tight end position has changed in the NFL. The days of finding the dual threat 6'6 260 lb guy who can drive block & catch 60+ balls are over.It's now about using the position to create mismatches & big plays downfield. Keller most certainly fits that billing. The jets have obviously adopted this philosophy at TE whole heartedly, as evident by the Tight ends currently on the roster. Keller/Cumberland/Baker/Smith are all athletic reciever first types. They obviously feel that they can get the same if not better return blocking wise from a 6th linemen.This not only serves as a great jumbo package option..but also is a great way to get younger linemen game experience in low risk situations.
I don't agree with your assessment here. Cumberland I see as a classic all around TE and Smith is definitely more of a blocker at this point (especially since he has never caught a pass before). IMO, we have a pretty well rounded TE group (if everyone pans out), that is why I don't really have a problem extending Keller.
I like this TE group too. I just see it as a group more predicated on athleticism than the jets TE corps of the past. I think it's too early to make any assumptions on Smith, but you like his size, athleticism & his background in basketball.
Our TE group is solid if cumby can come back healthy. Josh Baker looks promising aswell. Keller is an awful blocking TE, but without him our offensive production goes down.
