Quick offline Franchise question

[Dianwei32]

Ok, so I'm in the offseason after the 2013 season with a created cupcake team I'm rebuilding. I replaced the Browns and kept a few players, one was LT Joe Thomas. Thomas has been named OL of the year for the past 3 years, but in the FA signing period Jake Long is available. I like Long a lot, so I really want to sign him, but I already have an elite LT so I'm not sure what to do. I've narrowed it down to 3 options:

1. Sign Long and trade Joe Thomas away (he's got 1 year left on his contract, so it won't be too bad of a cap hit) for either picks or a position I need help with (mainly DE, C, and OLB).

2. Sign Long and move Thomas over to C, the one position on the OL that I need a good deal of help with.

3. Suck it up and pass on Long and keep Thomas at LT.

[spanky23]

Why not move Long to RT? Or Thomas to RT and move your RT to center?

[MikeyNYvett]

Well, it seems like you have two options really. If it's 2013, Thomas & Long have to be getting up there in age. OL doesn't effect it too much, other than it being a stud OL & costing quite a big chunk of cap.

I would either sign Long, play him at T, move Thomas to G/C, and trade Thomas next year after franchising him or pass on Long altogether, continue to trade Thomas after next year, and try to pick up a replacement in the draft. Generally speaking I err on the side of caution with aging players & would opt to pass on Long (and his massive contract) and go for youth in the draft in 2014.

[Dianwei32]

Quote: Originally Posted by spanky23

Why not move Long to RT? Or Thomas to RT and move your RT to center?

I have an elite RT already, my C is the only player I have that is below 90 OVR on the OL. Thomas is a few years older than Long, who is really in the prime of his career (he's 27-28). Here's what my line looks like

LT: Joe Thomas - 98 OVR
LG: Lonnie Edwards (drafted last year) - 91 OVR
C: Ryan Pickett (needs replacing) - 87 OVR, but lets in a ton of pressure/sacks
RG: Eduardo Pita - 90 OVR, not terribly impressed with him
RT: Forget his name - 96 OVR, drafted out of OU in the 2010 draft

[OctaneHugo]

I say sign Long and play a year with him and Thomas, then draft/sign a replacement for Thomas when his contract is up.

[P. Hays]

Dont trade. If he has a significant bonus it will effect your cap next year and you dont want to get into cap trouble with a cupcake team that your rebuilding. I say pass and spend your money elsewhere

[Dianwei32]

Quote: Originally Posted by P. Hays

Dont trade. If he has a significant bonus it will effect your cap next year and you dont want to get into cap trouble with a cupcake team that your rebuilding. I say pass and spend your money elsewhere

Thomas' remaining bonus isn't that big. I have a ton of cap room because most of my backups are the terrible cupcake players that the team started with, so they don't take up much cap/salary.

What I wanted ended up not mattering because Long apparently wanted to play with the Patriots instead of the defending Super Bowl Champions.