[Spike]

Originally Posted by Chaka

I get that everyone would be against a Braden Smith trade, and I'm not really advocating it but rather just throwing the idea out there for consideration. The reality is we'll have to start paying him full market rate starting in 2022, and if we can't afford to do that we'll lose him or have to make cuts elsewhere.

So the issue will eventually have to be dealt with, and I don't think you can say for certain you'd wouldn't trade any player until you know the price you could get for him (except, perhaps a face-of-franchise player like Manning or Luck).

I don't really know how to value Smith in his sense, but if, for example, a team was willing to give up two 1sts for Smith (ala Laremy Tunsil and yes, I know he's an LT) would everyone still be so strongly against it?

With AC retiring, I would hate to lose Smith. I seriously doubt any team without a head coach as brain dead as O'Brien would offer 2 firsts. Smith, according to AC should be a pro-bowler. Keep the chemistry going with the o-line.