Don't see how losing millions of dollars is a win. Not talking about a small pay cut it would be very large. He's losing money regardless hence lose-lose.
That's one way to look at it. Another way is everyone should be paid what they are worth. Just because we have cap space doesn't mean we should spend it on players undeserving of it. That's what got us in the mess that Idzik had to clean up. Paying an extra 8mm to a fragile WR isn't just about not creating a hole... It makes us less likely to sign Iupati or do right by our own players like Wilkerson and Harrison that are grossly underpaid. If Harvin can't make it through 16 (or hopefully) more games, would rather not tie up $8-10mm on him.
I thought the money is completely unguaranteed. Doesn’t that mean we can pretty much cut him whenever we like at no penalty?
This team has 3 wins and a lot of problems - non-NFL cornerbacks, a weak OL, one of the worst QB situations in the league. I'd still be excited about seeing it as a fan but I think it's a longshot for an NFL team to put that much money into a complimentary position. Who knows.
I don't see how having quality WRs is a "complementary" position if you're really serious about improving the passing game. Having speed at the WR positions means that the defense has to play more area. It means that the OL doesn't have to hold its blocks a long. It means that the QB has bigger windows to throw into. It adds to the probability of quick scores and MORE scoring. How absurd is it to tinker with the OL and QB and then have....SloDecker and SmallDecker as your primary targets? The song would remain the same: needing 15 plays to score...No, WR in this league is no more complementary than any of those other positions you've mentioned.
With the new rookie cap, we wouldn't be investing that much money into Cooper. It depends on what your draft philosophy is but if you're taking the best player available Cooper is probably the best player in the draft.
As long as we cut him before the start of the next season, as his 2015 salary is guaranteed on day one. However we need to make a decision sooner than that as cutting him after the draft would cost us a 4th pick rather than a 6th for him which would be absurd.
I keep Harvin - hopefully at a reduced rate and draft Amari Cooper. In the league today you often need five receiving options. Harvin is not a #1 receiver. Cooper can grow into that role and Decker comfortably into his #2 slot. With a competent quarterback, the passing game as I propose should cause major matchup problems for defenses.
I have mixed feelings about this. I love Harvin's talent, but I just don't trust the guy to be healthy. There is nothing more frustrating as a fan then having a major player on your team who is always in and out of the lineup with nagging injuries (it's the ultimate tease). If you told me Harvin was going to be relatively healthy going forward, I would be all for carrying on with the WRs we have and upgrading QB and OL. But, with injuries being an unavoidable practical consideration, I'm just not sure I want to bring Harvin back without taking a major pay cut. Having said all of that, I'm also not so sure about taking a WR with a top 5 pick. Generally, WR and RB are positions with profuse talent in a given draft, and can easily be filled as needs in rounds 2-4. I'd rather take my chances with a QB, take a stud OL, or even trade down and acquire a boatload of picks.
Watkins is the better talent - he is a better route runner, better hands and has more speed. They are very similar is size and build. Cooper will have more than his fair share of dropped balls.
The odds might be better at the top of the draft but look at results... OBJ ... Evans ... and plenty of second rounders are outperforming Watkins
We need an OL to give the QB time to throw to WRs. Otherwise whomever we have at QB will regress and gain happy feet. But as to the OPs question the WR group is not very good. Kerley, Decker and Amaro have dropped a lot of big passes this year. Decker is a nice complimentary WR that would likely do much better with a true number one. Harvin is probably best suited as a slot WR not a number 2. He is not worth the $7 million we paid him this year and is certainly not worth $10.5 million next year. But he does offer something we lack and that is speed. Speed on vertical routes, speed on horizontal sweeps and a weapon on KRs. I just do not see why he will want to play for the Jets next year unless we offer significantly more than the $5-6 million per year he is expected to make in FA. Kerley used to be very reliable but this year was very inconsistent. He would be a nice number 4 WR. I really liked what Salas did this year before injuring himself. He would be a nice 5th WR. What we lack is a big tall target who go up and win battles in the air. We do not have a red zone target and we have no WR on this team where the QB can have any confidence that if we throw him a contested ball that he can win a battle against a DB. This is one of the areas that Braylon Edwards was so clutch for us. If he was thrown a bad ball at worst he would knock it down. He saved so many INTs in 2010 on badly thrown balls. He would always out muscle and out fight the DB. Our WRs almost always lose the battle on contested balls. Overall our WRs are far below average but much better than 2013 where our best WR was Nelson who could not even keep a roster spot this year. We desperately need a number one or someone to compliment Decker. Someone who can be relied upon to go up and win individual battles on balls that are not thrown well. While I will never be upset about beating the Phins to end last year that win cost us a shot at OBJ and the 11th pick. Sad how we always just seem to miss out.
When healthy, Amaro should have been the primary redzone target. Not that I really trust marty to call a decent red zone play, but it's strange why we didn't just toss one up to amaro on more often as it worked the few times we did. Amaro needs to be on the field more as he presents more of a threat than any of WRs outside of kerley, decker, and harvin. I don't necessarily have a problem the way harvin is used, although I rather not seem him lined up in the backfield as much because that takes away reps from our backs. The speed he brings to the WR is much needed, since we haven't really seen much of this since the likes of the infamous stephen hill. However like you said, he is not worth the $10.5 owed next year even with all the benefits he brings to the offense and the return game. It's a tough situation because even though he's a talent, we got so many other needs to take care of like wilkerson who needs to be locked up this offseason.
Its probs a pipe dream but with Mainzel's struggles and if Winston is avl at 4/5 wonder if the browns would trade up for him
Watkins has had anywhere from a mediocre to outright poor quarterback throwing him the ball. He's definitely the best talent of a very talented bunch, IMO. edit: OBJ is right there, as well
We need to keep Harvin. With Percy, Decker, Kerley and Amaro that's a solid core for any competent qb to throw to. We need to shore up the oline. Plus Salas was decent as a 4/5 receiver and we still have Shaq Evans.
