How Much Value?

With NFL players demanding trades left and right, the market for disgruntled players is certainly a buyers market. This trend of players demanding new contracts or new situations is becoming even more common, and after seeing players, such as, Brandon Marshall successful get themselves out of town, more and more players seem to be picking up on the act. Two current Colts players are threatening to holdout for more money, and there is uncertainty as to whether these two will actually stand by their guns and skip out on training camp. Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne are currently in the midst of contracts that they signed to play for the Colts, and neither player is happy with the contract that they signed. Thus, if these two are serious about skipping camp, and if the Colts are serious about playing hardball with these two, then you could see a one or the other get traded. However, if the Colts were to trade either Mathis or Wayne, both quality players with a lot of production left in the tank, what would the Colts be able to get in this market?

Although Mathis will be 30 years old by the end of next season, he has shown that he is just as productive as ever. NFL teams have to be able to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Mathis has proven that he has the ability to create havoc for offensive lines. Not every team in the NFL would be jumping at the idea of adding Mathis, knowing that they would have to sign him to a new deal, but there is no question that a few teams would have serious interest. Teams looking for the final piece of the puzzle could take Mathis knowing that he is a great complimentary end, and with the uncertainty of the cap, high-spending teams may be willing to take him on even with a new contract. The Colts could probably secure a third or fourth round pick for Mathis, and that might be enticing enough to pull the trigger and forget about the headaches. However, if the Colts can bring Mathis into camp his production on the field for this year and next, would seemingly be much more than anything a mid round pick could bring to the table in his rookie season.

Unlike Mathis, Wayne is the type of player that teams around the NFL would kill for. With so many teams devoid of legitimate number one receiving threats, Wayne is the perfect option for a team that needs a receiver. Although he will be 32 this coming season, he still has a number of years left in him, and with the type of skill-set that Wayne offers, he could be around longer than the average number one receiver. However, his age will scare some teams off, and because of that he will probally not garner a first round pick, but I would expect nothing lesss than a second round pick. A few seasons ago when Tony Gonzalez wanted out of Kansas City, the Falcons were able to grab the future hall-of-fame tight end for a second round pick. Although Gonzalez still had a few seasons left of first round draft production, his age caused the price to fall to a second round pick. The Colts would be faced with the same dilema as the Chiefs were, and consider whether a top-notch receiving threat was worth getting rid of for a second round pick.

If the Colts were to move Mathis for a third round pick, most would consider that an average deal. The selection of Jerry Hughes makes Mathis less of key piece to this defense, and although it would certainly be better to have Freeney, Hughes, and Mathis, the Colts may not be willing to spend that much money on one position. However, the loss of Wayne would be devastating to this team. Although they have depth at receiver with Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie, none of those three have the ability to replace Wayne as the number one receiver, at least not yet. The loss of Wayne would leave Manning without a true number one receiver, and drop the Colts back from AFC favorites to around third or fourth in the conference. Wayne is still a crucial member of this team, and the Colts must find a way to bring him into camp.