Sep 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis (69) leaves the field after playing the San Diego Chargers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Chargers defeated the Eagles 33-30. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
A report has surfaced that the Eagles are shopping Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis. It is speculated the Eagles are looking for a third or a fourth round pick. Should they not be able to find a deal, they’ll hold onto Mathis.
#Eagles have made it known Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis is available via trade, sources say. So WR DeSean Jackson is not alone on trade block
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2014
If you are wondering what PFF says the Chiefs should do, look no further than this tweet.
OK I guess RT @young_blood85: @PFF - How did Evan Mathis performed last season? pic.twitter.com/pxhoTWegM5
— PFF (@PFF) March 26, 2014
Those are some decent grades, yes? Mathis performed exceptionally well under Andy Reid, too, posting a +51.3 grade in Reid’s final season with the Eagles.
The ultimate issue here will be Mathis’ contract. Mathis would be worth the fourth round pick KC would need to use to acquire him, this really isn’t the problem. What is a problem is Mathis would have cap numbers of $5.15 million, $5.5 million, and $6 million over the final three years of his deal. Kansas City would have to restructure his contract to make it fit within the 2014 budget, which is very doable, but it would require the Chiefs to take on more of a cap hit on the back end of his deal. This could prove to be a problem when it comes time for the Chiefs to re-sign Eric Berry, Dontari Poe, and Justin Houston.
The question the Chiefs have to answer is whether or not they can get the quality of play they need out of the right guard position with a low cap player like Rishaw Johnson or with one of their late round picks. Josh Sitton, the Packers’ left guard who finished second in PFF’s grades, was a fourth round pick; Louis Vasquez was a third round pick and finished third in PFF’s grades; Detroit’s Larry Warford ranked fourth and was drafted in the third round in 2013; Travelle Wharton was a third round selection, finished fifth in PFF’s grades; and Chicago’s Matt Slauson was a sixth round draftee with sixth overall grade from PFF. Geoff Schwartz, a player most Chiefs fans wanted the team to re-sign, was a seventh round draft pick.
(Note: Not sure what it means that PFF’s top two graded guards for 2013 were John Dorsey and Andy Reid draft picks but consider it noted.)
If you trust your ability to draft good players in all rounds, then why give up a third or fourth round pick for an expensive guard when an equivalent player could be had in the draft for significantly less money? Kansas City may be better off in the long run holding onto the pick even though Mathis is a talented player.