Chris Cooley for a 1st and a 3rd -- would you do it?

[Pocket$ $traight]

I would assume that a good coach could find a way to use both guys but if you had to trade one it would have to be Cooley. And I base this on the size of his contract. It just seems that this money could be better spent going forward now that Davis seems to have shown that he belongs "up here". If someone would give a second rounder and a conditional, you have to do it.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

First of all, I don't understand why some people here don't think anyone would give up a 1st and a 3rd for Cooley. The Falcons gave up a 2nd round pick for a 33-year old tony gonzalez. Cooley's also a pro-bowler, but he's 6 years younger. A team considering drafting a tight end with their first round pick would most certainly trade that same pick for Cooley. If its a high 1st rounder, i don't think wed get any additional compensation for him. however, if its a lower 1st rounder, then i absolutely think we could get a 3rd as well.

That said, I think Davis (due to his MUCH smaller contract) would actually garner more interest on the market, although i don't think he'd get us more than a 2nd rounder in terms of compensation. And if we were going to let him go for a 2nd rounder, then why use a 2nd rounder to draft him in the first place? that basically would mean we would have traded our 2008 2nd rounder for a 2010 second rounder - not much return on our investment there. If that were the compensation, i'd rather just keep them both.

Cooley's my favorite player, but i have to ask myself, WWBBD? - What Would Bill Belichek Do? He wouldn't be sentimental about it. He'd keep Davis, trade Cooley for a 1st and 3rd, trade the first for two 2nds, use the 2nd round picks on starting-caliber linemen and then use the 3rd on a young TE to groom behind Davis. Given the opportunity (capless 2010), that's what i'd do.

[Trample the Elderly]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

First of all, I don't understand why some people here don't think anyone would give up a 1st and a 3rd for Cooley. The Falcons gave up a 2nd round pick for a 33-year old tony gonzalez. Cooley's also a pro-bowler, but he's 6 years younger. A team considering drafting a tight end with their first round pick would most certainly trade that same pick for Cooley. If its a high 1st rounder, i don't think wed get any additional compensation for him. however, if its a lower 1st rounder, then i absolutely think we could get a 3rd as well.

That said, I think Davis (due to his MUCH smaller contract) would actually garner more interest on the market, although i don't think he'd get us more than a 2nd rounder in terms of compensation. And if we were going to let him go for a 2nd rounder, then why use a 2nd rounder to draft him in the first place? that basically would mean we would have traded our 2008 2nd rounder for a 2010 second rounder - not much return on our investment there. If that were the compensation, i'd rather just keep them both.

Cooley's my favorite player, but i have to ask myself, WWBBD? - What Would Bill Belichek Do? He wouldn't be sentimental about it. He'd keep Davis, trade Cooley for a 1st and 3rd, trade the first for two 2nds, use the 2nd round picks on starting-caliber linemen and then use the 3rd on a young TE to groom behind Davis. Given the opportunity (capless 2010), that's what i'd do.

That's what I was thinking.

[ChickenMonkey]

Id jump all over a trade with Cooley, but I'd agree, the best youre going to get is an early 2nd rounder......Maybe a really late 1st, Maybe

[franklinhimself]

Just a bit ago I replied that the FO should definitely take a deal that gives a high pick, but I guess my question is what would that pick get us? Would it be more helpful to get rid of our year after year most reliable pass-catcher, pro-bowler, locker room guy for a 2nd round lineman?

Two TE sets aren't used often but Cooley and Davis play like very good receivers anyhow. I guess I'm saying I'm hesitant to place what offense they could produce next year on the wayside for a 2nd round pick.

I know the argument that follows is that they won't produce a thing if we don't have a line to protect our qb. carry on...

[MTK]

A 1st and a 3rd for a TE? I just don't see it.

[skinsfan69]

players like Cooley can be found in the draft in the mid rounds. i really don't see anyone making a trade for him and his salary. he's a good player but he's not a great player.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

players like Cooley can be found in the draft in the mid rounds. i really don't see anyone making a trade for him and his salary. he's a good player but he's not a great player.

And Tom Bradys and Marques Coltons can be found in the 6th and 7th rounds, so why even bother drafting QBs and WRs before then? We found Chris Horton in the 7th - why would anyone give up more than that for Troy Polamalu? Atleast one TE is drafted in the first round almost every year. Just because you can find a pro-bowl player in the later rounds, doesn't mean its easy or that its even likely to happen. If a team is in dire need of ANY starting position on offense or defense, and there's a young pro-bowler available, most teams would consider giving up a 1st rounder as opposed to gambling on a draft pick.

[SFREDSKIN]

I would trade Landry before I trade Cooley. There's no need to trade Cooley, I would cut ARE and possibly trade Santana Moss at the WR positions and have Thomas, Kelly and Mitchell be the starters while we find another young guy which we might already have on the roster or PS.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

I would trade Landry before I trade Cooley. There's no need to trade Cooley, I would cut ARE and possibly trade Santana Moss at the WR positions and have Thomas, Kelly and Mitchell be the starters while we find another young guy which we might already have on the roster or PS.

I'd say the stock on Landry has taken quite a tumble. The whole league now knows he's susceptible to the double move. I hate to say it but he's looking awfully familiar to Roy Williams.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

I would trade Landry before I trade Cooley. There's no need to trade Cooley, I would cut ARE and possibly trade Santana Moss at the WR positions and have Thomas, Kelly and Mitchell be the starters while we find another young guy which we might already have on the roster or PS.

What are you going to get back in a trade for Moss? Nothing. I'd still keep him around cause he's still the best wr on the team. Landry just needs to be coached up. Although he's a punk and can't cover my mother, he still has value. He's probably the best athlete on the team. He has the ability to be a top player, he just needs to learn how to be a pro. He made some real nice plays yesterday but that gets over shadowed cause Oakland exploited him in coverage. Landry's problems can be corrected.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

What are you going to get back in a trade for Moss? Nothing.

3rd or 4th rounder, there are teams out there that need a WR, Baltimore comes to mind.

[Landry44]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

I would trade Landry before I trade Cooley. There's no need to trade Cooley, I would cut ARE and possibly trade Santana Moss at the WR positions and have Thomas, Kelly and Mitchell be the starters while we find another young guy which we might already have on the roster or PS.

I thought we had smart football fans here. The reason we would trade Cooley is for picks. Right now, our team needs to get younger. With the emergence of Davis there is no reason why we shouldn't consider trading Cooley. We don't need to trade Cooley. But, a trade would benefit our team more than keeping Cooley.

I think we should also consider trading Santana Moss. I think he's taking playing time that should be going to our young receivers. I like Thomas, Kelly, and Mitchell at receiver. I think those guys will develop a lot fast if ARE and Moss was no longer on this team.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

And Tom Bradys and Marques Coltons can be found in the 6th and 7th rounds, so why even bother drafting QBs and WRs before then? We found Chris Horton in the 7th - why would anyone give up more than that for Troy Polamalu? Atleast one TE is drafted in the first round almost every year. Just because you can find a pro-bowl player in the later rounds, doesn't mean its easy or that its even likely to happen. If a team is in dire need of ANY starting position on offense or defense, and there's a young pro-bowler available, most teams would consider giving up a 1st rounder as opposed to gambling on a draft pick.

Well first of all Horton isn't a proven player. Before he got hurt he got benched for poor play. So let's not put him in the same category of success as Brady and Colston. I understand your point but my point was finding a pass catching TE isn't a difficult position to find in the draft. Would you agree with that?

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Well first of all Horton isn't a proven player. Before he got hurt he got benched for poor play. So let's not put him in the same category of success as Brady and Colston. I understand your point but my point was finding a pass catching TE isn't a difficult position to find in the draft. Would you agree with that?

we're not talking about just a "pass-catching TE." We're talking about a pro-bowl level pass-catching stud of a TE. And not to side-track from the thread too much, Brady is more a product of a system than anything and and Cooley is a MUCH better TE than Colston is a WR. You do not find TE's like Cooley in every draft, and they rarely make it to the 3rd round or later. We really lucked out with Cooley.