Should Rams trade Tavon?

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pmil66

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pmil
Looked at the salary cap for the Rams today for the first time in a while. Tavon Austin once again jumps out with an almost 15 million cap hit for this season. Looked at his salary for this season and next and that number is 3.5 mil for this season, 3.0 for next. The rams could trade Tavon, reduce the cap hit for this season by 3 million, and would incur a 5 million cap hit for 2018. The cap hit for 2018 would be the same if he is released in 2018. The salaries for Tavon would be the cap hit for his new team, and those are not bad numbers. Would a draft pick or 2, 3 million in cap savings for this season, 3 million in cap savings next season be worth it? Maybe the rams could get a 4th and a 6th, similar to what they traded for Mark Barron a couple of years ago. Unlikely to happen, but with a new coaching staff you never know.
 
I'm of the belief firmly that Tavon is gone next year, regardless of his performance this year, unless he plays well and restructures next year. McVay has the ability to define each wideout's roll so well I believe he could find our next Tavon in the draft or within our existing corps.
 
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Looked at the salary cap for the Rams today for the first time in a while. Tavon Austin once again jumps out with an almost 15 million cap hit for this season. Looked at his salary for this season and next and that number is 3.5 mil for this season, 3.0 for next. The rams could trade Tavon, reduce the cap hit for this season by 3 million, and would incur a 5 million cap hit for 2018. The cap hit for 2018 would be the same if he is released in 2018. The salaries for Tavon would be the cap hit for his new team, and those are not bad numbers. Would a draft pick or 2, 3 million in cap savings for this season, 3 million in cap savings next season be worth it? Maybe the rams could get a 4th and a 6th, similar to what they traded for Mark Barron a couple of years ago. Unlikely to happen, but with a new coaching staff you never know.
I'm not going for this^ until we see what Tavon can do in a proper Offense with Our New Offensive minded HC!!(y);):D If McVay can't do anything with him, then, by all means Trade him for what-ever!
 
First suggestion is to create a title that doesn't leave the question about whether this is something that's happening or if it's your idea. Secondly who is going to take him and what are we going to replace him with. It's all well and good to get rid of a cap hit. But you need something to take his place on the roster and you need a buyer. Personally he's in the same spot as a lot of people on this team for me. I want to see what the new coaching staff can do with him. And because of his cap hit and his lack of overall production in the past think it's unrealistic he's traded and the cap hit makes it even less likely he'll be cut.

MOD Edit; Title has been changed.
 
First suggestion is to create a title that doesn't leave the question about whether this is something that's happening or if it's your idea. Secondly who is going to take him and what are we going to replace him with. It's all well and good to get rid of a cap hit. But you need something to take his place on the roster and you need a buyer. Personally he's in the same spot as a lot of people on this team for me. I want to see what the new coaching staff can do with him. And because of his cap hit and his lack of overall production in the past think it's unrealistic he's traded and the cap hit makes it even less likely he'll be cut.

MOD Edit; Title has been changed.

I apologize my title "Trading Tavon" posted in discussion thread seemed confusing. I would have posted "Tavon Traded" if a trade had actually occurred. Will not happen again.
 
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He has a good attitude, he works hard and he has done what they asked him to do. I expect he will continue to do the same. The difference being what they ask him to do. Before you kick him to the curb, let's see how this works out this year. He has at least 12 TDs in him.
 
IF he doesn't show improvements in his route running when camp starts then yes I would dangle him out there.

But if he does then he could be an important part of this offense. Then make the call this offseason.

I think the window for moving him opens next year. Unless they are unhappy with him of course.
 
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I know this has been posted previously but wouldn't we take a sizable cap hit this year?
Yes trading him this year and we still take a huge cap hit. His base salary this year is only $3.5 million. However this year we're paying $11.477 million roster bonus. Next year his base drops to $3 M and his roster bonus drops to $5 M. After that his base jumps to over 9 but his signing bonus is done. Trading him this year does about the same for our salary cap as trading GRob did, frees up $3.5 Million.
 
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It doesn't seem worth it to do anything this year. His cap hit goes down to 8 Million next year. Then nothing in 2019.

Let's see how McVay uses Tavon. I think Tavon can be used more as a deep threat . He is always a threat as a punt returner. He had 10 TDs in 2015. McVay can move him around including in the backfield and get some mismatches.
 
The 6.5 million in cap savings over 2 years could be used to resign ________________________ (fill in the blank).
 
We're paying? Nothing coming out of my pocket. :p

I'll take the wait and see choice up to the trading deadline. If he doesn't produce close to his value, and the other WRs/TEs make more plays, and another team has WR injury issues, and no less than a 3rd round pick is offered, (whew!!) then make a decision for the overall benefit of the team. Lot of ifs I know, but I'm not for trying to offer the quick trade yet. So I'm sitting on the fence, but I'm watching what Tavon and these other guys do.

What's been good about him so far is future potential playmaking ability (we know that) and current attitude.
 
Tavon on the field alone changes the way opposing defenses play us. Tavon and Gurley (Everett isn't proven yet) are THE only players on our offense that are home run threats and without TA teams will not be concerned with us stretching the field.
 
The biggest thing I took from Tavon's recent press conference is I believe he really has the WE not Me attitude.

Sure he has the big contract - I'd sign a contract like that too if I was offered.

However, he kept talking about how excited he was to see his teammates 'balling' during practice. He talked about how of course he wants the ball in his hands, in anyway he can. He also will be a huge cheerleader from the sideline for his teammates.

That's a WE guy.