Hardy may be the best free agent out there

[RoaringRiot]

Since that has happened, the CBA/salary cap structure has changed. Fully guaranteed contracts are now accelerated immediately against the cap.

And even if the player is traded it still counts against the former team's cap? And the new team's? That doesn't sound right.

[Ruff]

And even if the player is traded it still counts against the former team's cap? And the new team's? That doesn't sound right.

Partial amounts, yes. Look at the Beason trade.

[pantherj]

Partial amounts, yes. Look at the Beason trade.

And isn't the signing bonus involved? I think the signing bonus goes against the original team as well. The prorated signing bonus money that is spread out over the contract for cap reasons is all accelerated to the present year at the trade. I'd rather not trade Hardy. Sign him, or don't and wait for the compensatory pick.

[Pantherman]

And this is why the league needs to put a certain cap on the amount of money even the best player can ask for and get in a contract. No matter how good they are. This is why teams now days can't keep players for their entire careers like they use to. Because these star players has a few good years and then they feel they deserve the highest paid contract then any other person get at that same position. That's why the NFL needs to start capping the amount money any player get. So teams can afford to bring in more talent to build their team up without worrying that one player salary with take up a quarter of the franchise money. Ala Drew Brees for the Saints.

[thennek]

I'm not suggesting I would do this, but you never what the Panthers are thinking.  What if they traded Johnson, and kept Hardy?  How much would they save in cap space by trading Johnson?

[Toundra]

Some players like Tolbert before him are not always joining a team for money reasons and Hardy is obviously one of them.

 

[top dawg]

 

this site ranks him the second behind Jimmy Graham, and the Saints won't let him get away.

 

In other words, Hardy is gonna get offers that we can't come close to matching.

 

Gonna miss the Kracken a lot.

 

http://nfltraderumors.co/2014-nfl-free-agents-top-50-list/

 

 

Player Team Position Age Status 1. Jimmy Graham NO TE 28   2. Greg Hardy CAR DE 26   3. Michael Johnson CIN DE 27   4. T.J. Ward  CLE S 27   5. Jairus Byrd BUF S 27  F 6. Alterraun Verner TEN CB 25   7. Brian Orakpo WAS OLB 28   8. Henry Melton CHI DT 27 F 9. Eugene Monroe BAL OT 27   10. Jared Veldheer OAK OT 27   11. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie DEN CB 29   12. Randy Starks MIA DT 30   13. Lamarr Houston OAK DE 27   14. Jason Worilds  PIT OLB 26   15. Aqib Talib NE CB 28   16. Eric Decker DEB WR 27   17. Jason Hatcher DAL DT 32   18. Michael Bennett SEA DE 28   19. Dennis Pitta BAL TE 29   20. Alex Mack  CLE C 28   21. Captain Munnerlyn CAR CB 26   22. Knowshon Moreno DEN RB 27   23. Brent Grimes MIA CB 31   24. Brandon Spikes NE ILB 26   25. Branden Albert KC OT 29 F 26. Jordan Gross CAR OT 34   27. Vontae Davis IND CB 26   28. Hakeem Nicks NYG WR 26   29. Golden Tate SEA WR 26   30. Paul Soliai MIA DT 30    

 

 

There are some pretty good pickings on that list at our positions of need.  This could shape up to be a fun off-season.

[CatZilla]

trade him. definite first round pick. we can't handicap this team any longer.

 

need to get Cam weapons. It will suck majorly to see Kraken go. But we can't sacrifice that cap space when we desperately need it for the future.

how will we trade him if he doesnt sign the Tag

[TheRumGone]

how will we trade him if he doesnt sign the Tag

Already said he would

[top dawg]

Yeah, I don't see Hardy leaving that amount of green on the table. Probably more than he would get per year in any contract negotiations.

[Snake]

DG is hardcore and if he figures he cant keep him I could see him tagging Hardy. He would get at least a 3rd out of him.

[MGH1989]

Why are people so pessimistic? DG is not gonna let Hardy leave. He understands DE is one of the most pivotal positions to have star power at, along with QB, LT, and CB

[Camsfanclub]

I would not be surprised to see him get signed to a long term deal, i wish we could ditch jstew and dwill to free up cap space though. 

[mario]

And even if the player is traded it still counts against the former team's cap? And the new team's? That doesn't sound right.

 

The guaranteed money (with the franchise tag is 100% of the deal) count against the former team's cap.

 

So let's say they re-sign Hardy to this contract (that projection was made before the season, so is probably higher now, but bear with me) and then they trade him for a 1st round pick.

 

Panthers get an inmediate cap hit of 28 mill, which would put them 12 over the cap right now just to net a 1st round pick. The new team gets Hardy and just have to pay him the base salary of the contract (9 mill per year average) and they can cut him whenever they want without even taking 1 dollar of cap penalty.

 

So yeah, you trade 28 mill of your salary cap (more than 20%) and a good player for a 1st round pick, and you still have to replace said player.

 

The sign+trade talk needs to stop.