If Landry trade is inevitable, there’s no reason to wait
If Jarvis Landry is actually going to be traded, it makes sense for this to happen as quickly as possible.
We’re still not sure exactly why this can’t just get done with the Dolphins, because the two sides deserve each other and could really use each other. But if for some reason, it really is an untenable situation, there’s no reason to wait.
There are a lot of moving parts to a sign-and-trade, which is why they happen so infrequently. The Dolphins would need to find a team that Jarvis Landry would be enthusiastic about playing for. Perhaps a team like Tennessee, Baltimore, Dallas, New Orleans, Carolina, Oakland or Arizona. Then, Landry and his agent, Damarius
Bilbo, would need to work out a potential contract with that club, and the Dolphins and that club would need to work out reasonable compensation.
Now we see why this isn’t so simple.
There are deadlines and this is a deadline league. Technically, Bilbo can engage clubs in conversation about what they might be willing to pay Landry as early as March 12.
Of course, agents and clubs routinely casually and informally discuss “ideas” at the NFL scouting combine, which begins today in Indianapolis.
No team is going to give up the two first-round picks that would be required in a straight Landry signing. But there is every reason to discuss what a deal would pay after a successful trade.
The Dolphins and Landry’s camp obviously will engage in Indy this week. It makes sense for them to really drill down on if a 4- or 5-year deal worth, say, $14 million a year with 40 or 45 percent guaranteed can be accomplished.
If it’s decided it’s just not going to happen, they might as well discuss the list of teams Landry might be willing to play for. There is no point in the Dolphins, for example, discussing potential trade terms with a team he’d never play for. Cleveland, you say?
Well, yeah, maybe.
But what if that meant Landry would only go there for a 4- or 5-year deal that exceeded the projected $16 million franchise tag?
The same could be said of the 49ers and Jets, who have lots of salary cap space. Would Landry be fine playing there if the money was oh-so-right? We think so.
The Dolphins and Landry have until July 16 — an eternity — to come up with a long-term extension, before his only option is to sign the one-year contract. But if the Dolphins are going to move Landry, it makes sense for club and player to do it in the relatively near future.
Why? Well, there’s free agency and the draft. Teams in need of receivers may pursue other free agents and have less of a need for Landry. Teams in need of receivers may draft a player at that position, lessening their need for Landry.
Why would a team give up anything — even a low second- or high third-rounder — for a player that could be a free agent this year (if Miami removes the franchise tag) or after next season (if he plays for one season on the franchise tag)? Well, it’s a good question.
It will depend on the team and the situation. How much cap space do they have? How badly do they need a receiver? How do they perceive Landry’s value? How much would they like to make a splash move?
There are people who know Landry who believe it’s more likely than not he’s traded. But all involved also realize the complexity of the situation.
Landry is said to be in a good place. And really, he is in a good position.
He’ll either: 1) Make $16 million this season, which puts him among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers; 2) Get traded to a team that will give him the long-term deal he wants; or 3) Be rewarded with the long-term Miami deal he really wants.
It would behoove Miami and Landry to come together on a reasonable, fair deal that seems to be there for the taking. But if Miami has concluded a trade is actually a desirable track, there is every reason to believe all involved will learn more at the combine in Indy about how they can proceed to the finish line.