I disagree. I'm not saying its likely or w/e, but how would we feel as a fan-base if we traded Russ (or let him get taken for 2 first round picks) and we got the next Derrick Carr or Teddy Bridgewater in the 2016 or 2017 draft?
How would you feel with us having a successful nice starting QB who is going to be making $1-$2 million dollars a year in his 4-5 year rookie contract (like Bridgewater) and we could spend that $22-23mil that we aren't paying Russ on the Defense and Offense?
Wouldn't that be the best option ever? To move on from Russ and yet get a QB like Bridgewater and have 4-5 years of him being super cheap and having that $20+million to spend on w/e the frak we want?
Idk how likely that would be, we would have two drafts to find a QB in though (2016 we draft a QB no matter what, because of T-Jack's age and desire to be a backup elsewhere. Whether he is seen as backup level or QB1 level depends on how likely the FO sees us getting Russ signed is) and then if we can't sign Russ, and we trade him or unrestricted franchise tag him and get him taken for 2 first round picks in 2017, in 2017 we use one or both picks to grab QB(s) assuming the '16 QB didn't work out).
What are the odds we dont find a Carr/Bridgewater/Foles/Kaep/Dalton/etc QB with two-three tries in 2016 and 2017?
Don't get me wrong, i like the guy we know, i want us to sign Russ, he is perfect for this system...but what if i told you i am from the future and in 2017 we have a Bridgewater type QB who had a successful rookie year (NFCCG), Russ was taken from us (we got two 1st round picks for 2017's draft), and we now have $23 million dollars in cap space (not having to pay Russ) to spend on extending Earl, Kam, Sherm, Wagner, along with the ability to make moves like getting Jimmy?
Would you say "damn, we would be better off with Russ though"? Or would you say "holy shit! Yeah we lost Russ and that sucks, but we got two first round picks in the next draft, we got a solid QB under center, and $23mil in cap space not having to pay a QB #1 money"? I would.