Lets Dream: Julius Peppers

by jri111 on Jan 12, 2009 10:35 PM EST Comment 9 comments

The soon-to-be 29 year old defensive end had a career year in 2008 (51 tackles, 5 forced fumbles and 14.5 sacks!). This was his fourth double-digit sack season in the past 5 years and fifth of his 7-year career. Although he is set to become a free agent this off-season, many assume that Peppers will remain a Panther in '09 after he is inevitably tagged by Carolina. Not so fast.

To place the franchise tag on Peppers, Carolina would be on the hook for $17 million in 2009. That's not just a lot of money, that's a heck of a lot of money to wrap up in one player under the cap. Carolina would have to be sure that they could get a long-term deal in place, probably making Peppers one of the highest paid defensive players in N.F.L. history (somewhere around $13 million a year). If not, they have some tough decisions to make. If Carolina can't reach a long-term deal with Peppers, they may opt to tag-and-trade him. The price would be steep, both in compensation to Carolina and to Peppers, but would it be worth a look? What kind of draft pick compensation would you be willing to give up for Peppers? How about money - what kind of financial investment would you make?

Poll

What do you think will happen to Julius Peppers this off-season?

He will be re-signed to a long term deal by Carolina prior to start of free agency - making him one of the richest defensive players in the history of the N.F.L.

38 votes

Carolina will place the franchise tag on him and subseqently give him a new deal prior to the start of the 2009 N.F.L. season

33 votes

Carolina will tag-and-trade Peppers, making some fans of another team estatic.

10 votes

The world will stop spinning on its axis and Carolina will decide not to tag Peppers!

7 votes

Carolina will tag Peppers, setting off a nasty holdout that goes into the 2009 season.

19 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the reviews of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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Comments

by the way...

i’m not delusional in thinking the Bills could land Peppers, but after reading K’s article regarding our defensive inepitude, I got to thinking in “What if” world. Candy land is a magical place!

John I.

by jri111 on Jan 12, 2009 10:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It is a nice dream

I think cash to cap + more holes than the Titanic = No way we can throw that kind of money at Peppers.

"The Bills have no playoff aspirations"

by Joe P. on Jan 12, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its amazing how many holes on both sides of the ball can be cured with a Peppers....

A pass rush that creates more turnovers thus giving the offense more opportunities to give the ball to Jackson and Lynch and then suddenly……Trent isnt asked to sling it around 30 times a game (assuming turk realizes the defense will get the offense the ball more) and solid special teams…..Bills win 10 games a year for the next 4-5 years and maybe even win a playoff game or two…

In my humble opinion getting Peppers on this team would automatically save Jaurons job for the next 5 years………and season tickets would go through the roof.

12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 13, 2009 3:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

simply dreaming...

I’d definitely give up a first round pick for him because he’d sure up a position we were going to address in the draft. I would love to give him that huge deal worth 12-13 a year for 5ish years. That said, there is no way that the Bills would ever commit that much money to one player like that or have the guts to be able to pull a deal like that off.

Don't forget to pay the troll toll...

by evdawg419 on Jan 12, 2009 10:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t touch Peppers despite my neverending longing for an improved pass rush. He turns 29 next week and will command at least $10M per year. That’s just stupid for a team like the Bills to consider. We don’t need another aging DE with a big contract, we need talent AND youth.

The only logical FA DE I see is Bertrand Berry and that’s a short term fill once Kelsay is cut (PLEASE!). We still need a young stud in here.

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Jan 12, 2009 11:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

true...

well you have a decent point about his age but he’s not that’s old. 29 means that you could give him a 4 deal and he would be 32 at the end of it – that’s not too bad. At lot better then giving Schobel a 7-year deal when he was 30! Of course Peppers wouldn’t happen, it would cost way too much to get him (in draft picks and money) and Buffalo has too many other holes to fill. But in a hypothetical world, if the Bills could get him without having to trade for him, I would pony up the big bucks in a heartbeat.

What about Suggs? You wouldn’t want him? The guy is 26 years old – still in the prime of his career and could play the 4-3 DE in Buffalo’s defense.

Berry does nothing for me. I know he would be a band-aid, but even at that I’m not impressed. For me it’s either Suggs or draft.

John I.

by jri111 on Jan 13, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t want to bother with a guy approaching 30 and give him a 6-7 year deal, because that’s exactly what Peppers will be asking for, and getting from someone.

Who said I wouldn’t want Suggs!?!?!?! I would love having that guy here. I’d add him and another high pick if possible. Suggs only has 13 sacks over the past 2 seasons, so I do kind of wonder what’s up with that.

Regarding Berry, I want him in place of Kelsay. I don’t want him as an addition to what we have right now. I want him to replace Kelsay and help groom our first round rookie. That’d be my dream offseason for the position, assuming Suggs and Everette Brown is an unattainable dream…

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Jan 13, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Heck, while we are dreaming, why not bring in Ray Lewis? would be like a second DC, and don’t get me started on fire and toughness. He is a free agent and would probably cost less then Peppers.

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Jan 13, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I love the fact that Peppers is potentially on the market

It will take some attention away from Suggs. Also another thing working for us in Suggs’s case is that he is currently listed as a OLB so that might detract some 4-3 teams that might have been interested.

I would love Peppers but I am not delusional! Realistically we don’t have much chance at Suggs either but hell, like JR I am allowed to dream a bit!

BEAST MODE, During the week plan on it & on game day thrive on it!
GO BILLS!
Section 336 Row 13

by keysh67 on Jan 13, 2009 9:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs