Henry Melton Franchised

[brantcruz50]

I think you and Mori have gotten into a different conversation than where it started.

I don't think he was originally arguing against tagging or signing Melton. Just against as specific comment about HAVING to tag/sign him, and that. Sing related to him being a homegrown player on the upswing. HAVING - as in, no brainer.

Now, if I am right in that then I agree with both of you. It is NOT a no brainer because we have lots of needs, and a new coach who may someday implement a different scheme where Melton wouldn't fit as well.

Simultaneously, I strongly believe that tagging him (and signing him long term if they can at a reasonable, maybe slightly less than free-agent market value) is the right decision. Because he is a very good, maybe elite DT.

[PSUmtj112]

I think you and Mori have gotten into a different conversation than where it started.

I don't think he was originally arguing against tagging or signing Melton. Just against as specific comment about HAVING to tag/sign him, and that. Sing related to him being a homegrown player on the upswing. HAVING - as in, no brainer.

Now, if I am right in that then I agree with both of you. It is NOT a no brainer because we have lots of needs, and a new coach who may someday implement a different scheme where Melton wouldn't fit as well.

Simultaneously, I strongly believe that tagging him (and signing him long term if they can at a reasonable, maybe slightly less than free-agent market value) is the right decision. Because he is a very good, maybe elite DT.

I get what you are saying. If this was a general thread about the value of players leaving their rookie contracts, then I would get that. Maybe I did not originally specify my comments in relation to Melton's value enough. However, I thought that was inferred by the fact that this is a thread specifically regarding Melton and the value being placed on him.

Either way, regardless if you are building or retooling, Melton is the type of player and the right age that you commit money to.

[brantcruz50]

Either way, regardless if you are building or retooling, Melton is the type of player and the right age that you commit money to.

I don't think there is any doubt that if suddenly every player in the league was a free agent, that only Cutler and (probably; only because of his past off-field stuff) Marshall would get more guaranteed money among Bears players. He's young and he's good, and he plays a position where players peak later more often than not.

[Mikefive]

I don't take the same view as PSU and others do. I'm a bit more nervous about signing Melton. I don't think it's quite as simple as PSU puts it when he justifies paying the big $$$ just because he's young and rising. Here's why...

In my mind, there's a real difference between players who have skills that fit a scheme and players who would be good in any scheme. Mike Martz, whose system loves small, quick WRs would still love to have Brandon Marshall because he'd be very good in ANY system. I don't see Henry Melton as the kind of player who would be going to Pro Bowls no matter what.

That makes Melton's productivity subject to the scheme. And while the general belief is that we will be doing things similar to the T2, who knows what tomorrow will bring? Besides, even the PFF numbers he quoted only suggested he's worth $6.2M. The franchise tag is greater than $8.3M. What does that say?