FanPost

Byrd's Future

We've seen a fanpost recently asking people what Buffalo can get for Byrd in terms of a trade. That post didn't have a poll. Quite a few people who commented stated that they only wanted to sign Byrd to a long term deal. While I wish the team would do just that the fact that the Bills haven't suggests strongly that Byrd's days in Buffalo are numbered. The options as I see them:

  • Trade Byrd before the trade deadline passes.
  • Keep Byrd through the 2013 season and sign him to a new deal in the offseason.
  • Keep Byrd through the 2013 season and let him walk afterwards.
  • Keep Byrd through the 2013 season, franchise him again and trade him.
  • Keep Byrd through the 2013 season, franchise him again and keep him through the 2014 season.
Though the majority would like to see Byrd signed to a new deal after the 2013 season concludes that strikes me as the least likely of the 5 possible outcomes. If Buffalo intended to meet Byrd's price the team would have done so. If the team was unwilling to pay him as one of (if not the) top guys in his position in 2013 why would 2014 be any different? Franchising him again, to me, is another non-starter. No team in the league is going to hold it against Byrd if he refuses to report until the 10th game of the 2014 season if he is franchised two seasons in a row. I also don't see Buffalo just letting him walk at the end of the 2013 season. We're left with trading Byrd now or attempting to trade him after franchising him in 2014.
Trading Byrd after re-franchising him entails a lot of risk. First, if Byrd gets hurt the perceived trade value goes down. Second, and perhaps of even greater concern, teams might not be willing to give up picks for a player who may well sit out (not hold out as he won't be under contract) in an effort to force his way out of town.
Trading Byrd now carries the risk that the defense won't play as well. Given that we're almost certain to be treated to yet another year of horrendous defensive performances i don't know that Byrd is going to be enough to change some of the 10+ 2013 Ls to Ws. Meanwhile the Bills figure to be picking in the top 10, possibly near the top 5. An extra first round pick could go a long way to helping Buffalo build a team that can contend at some point down the road. (Assuming, of course, that the Bills decide at some point to stop being a developmental squad for the league....which re-signing Byrd could herald if the Bills had any actual interest.)
The Giants just lost a starting safety. They are a team that figures to be in the playoff hunt. it is a 'win now' league (for teams other than Buffalo, whose motto might be 'win eventually') and the Giants have the makings of a team that could make a serious Super Bowl run for the next year or two. Adding Byrd to the team could help their odds of ruining another Super Bowl locker room celebration for Tom Brady--who can't both throw the ball and catch it, as his hot wife will have you know. In terms of trade, keep in mind that the Giants figure to be picking in the last third of the draft.
It's your turn to play GM. The Giants call, asking about Byrd. What do you say?

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.