Robertson to the bengals has been called off

You know what. I do this trade, even for as much as a 3rd, and here's why:

First, the dude may not be playing up to his #4 hype, but he's playing up to a 3rd round hype...and more so. Sure, we have a shot at getting someone as good as him....a slim chance at getting somone better....but the odds are very good that we won't be able to find a player in the 3rd that will reach his level of play. People overvalue draft picks, and this guy will most likely be way better than anyone we get there. A good DT with no character issues OR injury concerns.

"But MSU, his contract is so big."

No it isn't. Not for us. That's like an Eskimo complaining about a trade because the other person wants too much snow.

Sign him to a front loaded contract that after that first year is smaller but can get bigger through incentives. I'm not saying give him the $10 million, but let him keep it big. That way there's more of a chance he'll sign it and not stop the trade AND we'll still have more than enough to re-sign our players, sign a few more lower-tier FAs, and sign our draft picks. PLUS, when it matters, his contract won't be near that large in the following years.

Our DL of Smith, Grant, McCray, Thomas, Young, and Robertson would be among the best in the league and we'd still have our 1st and 2nd to get some more help. Without signing a big guy, we are looking at going into the season with TONS of unused cap space (even if we re-sign a lot of guys).

I understand it might not work because he might not want to come here and he'll stop the trade anyways, or maybe Vilma knows reasons not to get him that we don't, but I would try from what I know, now.

We're like a fat hungry kid in a candy store with a $100 gift card that expires at night but keeps buying Jelly Beans because the good stuff "costs too much."