[News] Late For Work 5/21: Where Is Ravens Salary Cap Money Going?

[TXRavensFan]

Yanda is the best lineman in the league. Baffles me when people around here talk about lettin him walk and focusing on K.O. smh

 

He is, and I want him to retire a Raven. That being said, from the business side I can envision a scenario where the front office has to make a decision (based on the money Yanda wants) on whether it is better to maybe overpay to keep him for maybe the next 3-4 years, or to lock up Osemele for potentially 8-10 years. I wouldn't want to have to make that decision.

 

Ultimately, I hope the front office can find a way to keep them both.

[riseNConquer81]

@riseNConquer well I thought Yanda is more important than K.O. but to come to think about it if I had to choose between K.O. and Yanda I think I've choose K.O. because of his age and could help us in a long run then Yanda but I hope Ozzie find a way to keep both as well as Tucker.

We're talking about o line. He doesnt need to run nine routes or beat press coverage, or chase down small guys with the ball. Age is an extremely limited factor in a position group where your main responsibility is simply to weigh 300+ pounds and push people. He is only 30, he has at least 5 years before his age is even worth paying attention to, and there arent many contracts that last much longer than that.

 

He is, and I want him to retire a Raven. That being said, from the business side I can envision a scenario where the front office has to make a decision (based on the money Yanda wants) on whether it is better to maybe overpay to keep him for maybe the next 3-4 years, or to lock up Osemele for potentially 8-10 years. I wouldn't want to have to make that decision.

 

Ultimately, I hope the front office can find a way to keep them both.

i've never even heard of an 8 year NFL contract, and if there is one, no one is writing it for an offensive lineman.

Yanda is double dipping on the depth chart and plays at a high level across the line, he would be worth every penny. Cant say the same for K.O., he is the Ben Grubbs in this situation if a choice must be made.

Edited May 21, 2015 by riseNConquer81

[Postapocalypse Raven]

Yanda is the best lineman in the league. Baffles me when people around here talk about lettin him walk and focusing on K.O. smh

Best lineman, or best guard? I'm thinking best guard.

[HoldingCall]

Moving the PAT back may just produce a few additional misses without increasing the number of two-point attempts.

[steelcityraven]

YANDA 79?????? Isnt Yanda like a 5x pro bowler? Is the 78 players in the league that have accomplished more then that? WHen you are voted on as the best at your position 5 x and still are as dominant as Yanda is.... I think 79 is a little bit of a joke! I will almost put money on it that there will be several 1st and 2nd year players that we be voted ahead of YANDA.... One good year doesn't make you one of the best players in the NFL.... it is consistency... doing it year in and year out and that is YANDA and I don't believe that there are too many people in the league doing that better then he is!

[riseNConquer81]

Best lineman, or best guard? I'm thinking best guard.

Best. Lineman. he is not limited to guard, you can plant him anywhere and likely call it an upgrade over what you had before.

[hen826957]

@riseNConquer I agree about you can play o-line then like you say a corner or safety you suppose but which is better in the long run Yanda is not that old but he only got 2 or 3 years playing at a high level but K.O. is like 25 turning 26 he got about 7 years of playing a high level so is it best to let a player who going into in prime while get a guy that not finish playing at a high level but eventually in 2 to 3 years its best for the team to keep the younger fresher one who playing dominant. Hopefully they will keep both so we don't have this conversation and will all be happy hope to extend one of those guys and sign the other one next year.

[riseNConquer81]

YANDA 79?????? Isnt Yanda like a 5x pro bowler? Is the 78 players in the league that have accomplished more then that? WHen you are voted on as the best at your position 5 x and still are as dominant as Yanda is.... I think 79 is a little bit of a joke! I will almost put money on it that there will be several 1st and 2nd year players that we be voted ahead of YANDA.... One good year doesn't make you one of the best players in the NFL.... it is consistency... doing it year in and year out and that is YANDA and I don't believe that there are too many people in the league doing that better then he is!

the scope of evaluation is limited to only the previous season, history is not a factor here. well its not supposed to be anyway

[Postapocalypse Raven]

We're talking about o line. He doesnt need to run nine routes or beat press coverage, or chase down small guys with the ball. Age is an extremely limited factor in a position group where your main responsibility is simply to weigh 300+ pounds and push people. He is only 30, he has at least 5 years before his age is even worth paying attention to, and there arent many contracts that last much longer than that.

And K.O. is only 24, so based on your very own logic....

 

 

i've never even heard of an 8 year NFL contract, and if there is one, no one is writing it for an offensive lineman.

Yanda is double dipping on the depth chart and plays at a high level across the line, he would be worth every penny. Cant say the same for K.O., he is the Ben Grubbs in this situation if a choice must be made.

Surely he was suggesting two or more contracts back to back. Not a single 8 year contract.

 

Ben Grubbs was 28 years old when we let him walk. Yanda was 27. I'm not so sure that K.O. is Ben Grubbs at all.

[TXRavensFan]

i've never even heard of an 8 year NFL contract, and if there is one, no one is writing it for an offensive lineman.

I was referring to a 2nd and 3rd contract for Osemele, for a potential total of 8-10 years.

 

Yanda is double dipping on the depth chart and plays at a high level across the line, he would be worth every penny. Cant say the same for K.O., he is the Ben Grubbs in this situation if a choice must be made.

 

Just thinking from a business perspective, Yanda will be 31 at the beginning of the season, and data indicates that guards tend to see a drop off in performance at age 32 (on average), and by 34 most are no longer playing at a high level. If it came down to a one or the other scenario, the front office would have to weigh that versus the potential of keeping Osemele, who also plays at a high level, for longer.

 

Again, that's just one scenario, and I hope they find a way to sign both.

[Postapocalypse Raven]

Best. Lineman. he is not limited to guard, you can plant him anywhere and likely call it an upgrade over what you had before.

I see you've got your purple shades on today. Do they have you seeing him playing C, and LT too. I like Yanda as much as anyone else here, but crowning him as the best lineman in the league is just a bit far fetched.

Edited May 21, 2015 by Postapocalypse Raven

[riseNConquer81]

And K.O. is only 24, so based on your very own logic....

that's not based on my logic, that's a fact. K.O. is 24...what is your point though?

 

 

Surely he was suggesting two or more contracts back to back. Not a single 8 year contract.

but nobody writes contracts in sets of two, so that doesnt make sense.

 

Ben Grubbs was 28 years old when we let him walk. Yanda was 27. I'm not so sure that K.O. is Ben Grubbs at all.

the entire point of this post was how irrelevant people's ages are in this situation and yet for some odd reason or another you're fixated on them.

in any case...you completely missed the point.

The last time it was time to pay Yanda and we had another good guard also lookign for a contract, Grubbs is the one who found his somewhere else.

K.O. is the Ben Grubbs in this situation because if history repeats itself...he's the one that should be leaving.

 

I see you've got your purple shades on today. Do they have you seeing him playing C, and LT too. I like Yanda as much as anyone else here, but crowning him as the best lineman in the league is just a bit far fetched.

who's better?

you gotta at least list an alternative if you're gonna say that...otherwise you're just saying stuff for the sake of saying it.

he's the only guard anybody thought enough of to even mention for this thing, a 5x probowler, can play both guard spots at an elite level. plays tackle at a high level. sure there are a few guys that can play Center OR Tackle better than him, but who's playing Center, Guard, AND Tackle better than him?

Edited May 21, 2015 by riseNConquer81

[Xmadraven]

I see you've got your purple shades on today. Do they have you seeing him playing C, and LT too. I like Yanda as much as anyone else here, but crowning him as the best lineman in the league is just a bit far fetched.

He is THE best lineman according to PFF. He's an amazing dominant run blocker and very good in pass protection. There are other lineman who receieve more acclaim and are criminally underrated (Andrew whitworth, who gave up a whopping 9 pressures all season....NINE)  He's the best lineman in the NFL he can play both G spots,RT when needed. I think he could play LT and C if he had time to get used to it,he's the ravens best player (Not the most valuable there's a difference)

[riseNConquer81]

I was referring to a 2nd and 3rd contract for Osemele, for a potential total of 8-10 years.

signing him now doesnt guarantee he extends a second time once that contract is up, so if you're talking about two contracts, that's just speculative hyperbole.

and K.O. is not gone forever if he leaves us now, he can sign here again as a free agent in the future, he doesnt have to sign two consecutive Ravens contracts in order for us to get him back. He's also not the last guard on earth either, there will be new ones every year.

 

 

 

Just thinking from a business perspective, Yanda will be 31 at the beginning of the season, and data indicates that guards tend to see a drop off in performance at age 32 (on average), and by 34 most are no longer playing at a high level.

what data? and if it even exists, what's that got to do with Yanda? you think Yanda fell off, is that what you're trying to say?

Rod Woodson, Ray Lewis, Steve Smith, Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, Justin Forsett, Bryant McKinnie, Jacoby Jones...this franchise and all of its defining moments are built on players that are supposedly old and washed up...i dont understand how fans of this team in particular can overreact about age, especially at a position where it has diminished significance.

we are a team that builds through the draft. I dont think anybody minds Urschel at guard do they? I'd rather pay for a few more years of elite guard play and time to find replacements (which is an inevitability), than pay for the hope that K.O. sticks around 8-10 years, especially given that he himself, is just the replacement for another guy we hoped would stick around for 8-10 years.

Edited May 21, 2015 by riseNConquer81

[KiwiRaven52]

Trust in Oz to make the right call in regards to Yanda & K.O. Lets all just hope as Ravens fans that we seem them both together over the next 3 years.

[huntrgathrr]

Use that money to extend Osemele, Yanda and Tucker.

[Halshayeji]

Correct, it wouldn't. Its certainly a better position than we are used to.

 

Though I'd caution that I still think that ranks us around 20th in the league right now in cap space, so while to us it seems like a gigantic sum where we could buy some significant players, there's plenty of teams ahead of us in that regard, and many of them are significantly ahead.

It doesn't matter where we rank. 20 mil in free cap is 20 mil. I for one am extremely excited. Seriously. We get to walk into an offseason with the option of keeping all of our starters. Then add a few rookies via draft. Then pickup 1 or 2 marque free agents just to ensure a title run. I'm sure ozzies is already licking his lips.

[rmcjacket23]

It doesn't matter where we rank. 20 mil in free cap is 20 mil. I for one am extremely excited. Seriously. We get to walk into an offseason with the option of keeping all of our starters. Then add a few rookies via draft. Then pickup 1 or 2 marque free agents just to ensure a title run. I'm sure ozzies is already licking his lips.

Actually, you could argue the rankings means more than the actual cap space does. If we have $50M in cap space, and there's 20 teams that have at least that much, it really doesn't make much difference whether we had $50M in cap space or $5M in cap space, because its all relative when compared to what other teams have.

 

The likelihood of us getting even ONE marquee FA is still remote, especially when you consider that there's 20 other teams with equal or more cap money who may choose to bid on the same player. And typically in the NFL, he who offers the most money typically gets the player.

 

In the end, its still way, way, way too early to be talking about next offseasons cap situation. There's still plenty of moving pieces, and anything can happen in an offseason that can drastically affect the salary cap (as this franchise should know more than any).

 

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that people who think the Ravens are going to go on a FA spending spree next season and make "splashes" with marquee signings are going to be highly disappointed a year from now.

[rmcjacket23]

that's not based on my logic, that's a fact. K.O. is 24...what is your point though?

 

 

but nobody writes contracts in sets of two, so that doesnt make sense.

 

the entire point of this post was how irrelevant people's ages are in this situation and yet for some odd reason or another you're fixated on them.

in any case...you completely missed the point.

The last time it was time to pay Yanda and we had another good guard also lookign for a contract, Grubbs is the one who found his somewhere else.

K.O. is the Ben Grubbs in this situation because if history repeats itself...he's the one that should be leaving.

 

who's better?

you gotta at least list an alternative if you're gonna say that...otherwise you're just saying stuff for the sake of saying it.

he's the only guard anybody thought enough of to even mention for this thing, a 5x probowler, can play both guard spots at an elite level. plays tackle at a high level. sure there are a few guys that can play Center OR Tackle better than him, but who's playing Center, Guard, AND Tackle better than him?

I'd caution you on one thing... the reason Grubbs was allowed to walk is because he was the second player of the guards to sign a contract. There was very little difference between Grubbs contract and Yanda's, so whoever signed first increases the likelihood that the other guard signs elsewhere. In that respect, yes, its possible one of them leaves.

 

The problem is... its entirely possible that KO signs first. I wouldn't call it likely at this point, but its certainly possible. If KO signs first, there's zero guarantee Yanda is back at all, regardless of whether we think he's the better guard or even whether we want him back.

 

In theory, we could retain both, at that's the goal. But I highly doubt the Ravens are strictly focusing on Yanda because he's the better guard. I have no doubt the FO has and continues to engage KO in contract talks as well, and it wouldn't surprise me if he signed first. 

[Joey Flac]

It doesn't matter where we rank. 20 mil in free cap is 20 mil. I for one am extremely excited. Seriously. We get to walk into an offseason with the option of keeping all of our starters. Then add a few rookies via draft. Then pickup 1 or 2 marque free agents just to ensure a title run. I'm sure ozzies is already licking his lips.

 

shouting to Decosta... You tryna make a trade?! 

 

We already got Arrington and still have ammo to grab another one. 

[TXRavensFan]

signing him now doesnt guarantee he extends a second time once that contract is up, so if you're talking about two contracts, that's just speculative hyperbole.

and K.O. is not gone forever if he leaves us now, he can sign here again as a free agent in the future, he doesnt have to sign two consecutive Ravens contracts in order for us to get him back. He's also not the last guard on earth either, there will be new ones every year.

 

Of course it was speculation, which is why I originally said "potentially." 

 

what data? and if it even exists, what's that got to do with Yanda? you think Yanda fell off, is that what you're trying to say?

Rod Woodson, Ray Lewis, Steve Smith, Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin, Justin Forsett, Bryant McKinnie, Jacoby Jones...this franchise and all of its defining moments are built on players that are supposedly old and washed up...i dont understand how fans of this team in particular can overreact about age, especially at a position where it has diminished significance.

we are a team that builds through the draft. I dont think anybody minds Urschel at guard do they? I'd rather pay for a few more years of elite guard play and time to find replacements (which is an inevitability), than pay for the hope that K.O. sticks around 8-10 years, especially given that he himself, is just the replacement for another guy we hoped would stick around for 8-10 years.

 

I'm not arguing that I think Yanda should walk. As I mentioned out the outset, I simply see a scenario where the front office lets him test free agency (especially considering their 80/20 rule). As I also said in the beginning, I hope he's resigned.

 

However, since you asked:

 

 

As shown in the graph, thee is a noticeable drop off in performance after a lineman's 7th year, which is pretty much where we're at with Yanda.

 

Also:

 

 

Guards start wearing down once they get to 32. Letting a guard hang around when he's 34 is stretching it. Centers can go into their mid-30s, but they do risk injuries.

 

How Long Is Too Long For An Offensive Line?

 

The above observations tend to be supported by the graph, when looking at performance levels. However, I'm not saying that Yanda will definitely follow that path, as there are always exceptions (and you mentioned a few that have played for the Ravens) - but they are exceptions, not the rule. Even so, they let Ray Lewis, a once in a generation player, test free agency before his last contract.

 

Again, not saying they should let Yanda go, just discussing some of the factors the front office will have to weigh, especially if Yanda wants more than they're willing to pay. These are things that should be on all Ravens fans minds, especially with Ngata being traded this year over money.

Edited May 22, 2015 by TXRavensFan

[Maryland]

The silver lining of having so much dead money is that it tends to open things up for the future. Of course, if you're backloading a lot of contracts, the savings won't be as easy to see (The Flacco contract, for example). Since I'm here looking at 2016, it looks like Guy, Levine, Canty, SS89, Webb, Daryl Smith, and Pitta are possible cuts, depending how they play in 2015.

-

I can't help but feel like Urschel is setting himself up to have some kind of novelty role as a football math wizard in the future, kind of like how they have a sportscience segment on ESPN. Not that'd he'd need the money or anything; when you can crunch numbers like he can, the job market is full of opportunities. 

Edited May 22, 2015 by Maryland

[OzzieBisciotti]

Regarding Marshall Yanday, this was so predictable of the baltimoreravens.com media writing, "Still, it was a drop from the No. 55 ranking he had last year, following a trend of several Ravens dropping in the rankings. Basically, as what happened with our beloved Torrey Smith (and Ngata), the baltimoreravens.com is pushing 2 agendas here: 1) trying to make Marshall Yanda feel like he's not as highly valued so Ozzie can try to pitch hi the hometown discount and not what he deserves to be paid, and 2) prepare fans that they are going to lose Marshall Yanda. If I were Marshall Yanda, I would get the highest contract available because this is his last and best shot at a high contract regardless of where that migh be- I'm definitely a big fan of Yanda, and hope he stays, but I would hope the Ravens do the right thing, which they didnt do to Torrey, then they will make an offer to Yanda where he's at least paid in the top three for offensive guards. I have a gut feeling that we'll be seeing Yanda leave to do what's right for himself and his family- no offense baltimoreravens.com

[hen826957]

@OzzieBisciotti it seems like you don't understand football it seems to you that we don't have no salary cap in the NFL and we could paid how much he wants and when he wants. I remember you saying why we let Torrey Smith and we should've have paid him 40 to 50 million and such Torrey is not worth that man and the last play as a Raven prove that he's not a number 1 receiver. Then your complaining about trading Haloti who he refuse to help the team. So what if he didn't get traded what happens couldn't sign Jimmy Smith, the rookies, help the secondary, etc what are we suppose to do with like 4 or 5 million in cap space due to Ray and Haloti so we don't have a choose but to trade him if he wanted to stay he should've extend his contract. If we kept Haloti you be complaining about why we don't have corners, why we don't have wrs and by the way if they kept Haloti we would've got Torrey Smith anyway. It was the best of the team to trade Haloti to help the team.

[hen826957]

@OzzieBisciotti I'm glad your not the Gm because you would destroy this team. You would kill the team by trying to save Torrey Smith, Haloti with there salary especially 16 million cap number on Haloti. Your reminding me of the Pittsburgh Steelers when Troy, Ike Tayler, etc retired they don't have no players to grove on know why because they depend on them to long wasn't build for the future and it's going affect them big time. Ozzie is building from the future and Brandon Williams and Jernigan are ready.

[Postapocalypse Raven]

that's not based on my logic, that's a fact. K.O. is 24...what is your point though?

If your saying that Yanda has 5 years until we need to start paying attention to his age then K.O. should have at least ten years before we'd have to do the same.

 

 

but nobody writes contracts in sets of two, so that doesnt make sense.

You know I didn't say that. Now your just being silly.

 

 

the entire point of this post was how irrelevant people's ages are in this situation and yet for some odd reason or another you're fixated on them.

in any case...you completely missed the point.

The last time it was time to pay Yanda and we had another good guard also lookign for a contract, Grubbs is the one who found his somewhere else.

K.O. is the Ben Grubbs in this situation because if history repeats itself...he's the one that should be leaving.

Age may have been irrelevant in the case of Grubbs & Yanda because they were so close in age. However, in the case of Yanda & K.O. age plays a more significant role because they are more than 5 years apart. Nothing to be fixated on, but certainly a factor that warrants consideration.

 

Grubbs left and we got to keep the better of the two players, but this situation, I think, is a little bit different because of the quality of the player in K.O., AND yes, both players ages. The FO has clearly expressed it's interest in extending Yanda, but if they're unable to do so K.O. is not without his pros. I'd be happy with either one.

 

 

who's better?

you gotta at least list an alternative if you're gonna say that...otherwise you're just saying stuff for the sake of saying it.

he's the only guard anybody thought enough of to even mention for this thing, a 5x probowler, can play both guard spots at an elite level. plays tackle at a high level. sure there are a few guys that can play Center OR Tackle better than him, but who's playing Center, Guard, AND Tackle better than him?

Any one of the leagues elite left tackles... Take your pick. 

 

He's the only guard in the top 100 players, but I already said that he's the best guard. I'll guarantee you that there'll be other lineman ranked higher, and that's by the players who play with and against them. Their opinion carries a little more weight than yours and mine. Not that it makes very much difference but i'm pretty sure you tried to slip in an extra pro bowl on Yanda's resume, and when did he ever take any significant snaps at center?

[Postapocalypse Raven]

He is THE best lineman according to PFF. He's an amazing dominant run blocker and very good in pass protection. There are other lineman who receieve more acclaim and are criminally underrated (Andrew whitworth, who gave up a whopping 9 pressures all season....NINE)  He's the best lineman in the NFL he can play both G spots,RT when needed. I think he could play LT and C if he had time to get used to it,he's the ravens best player (Not the most valuable there's a difference)

Yep he sure is, but I don't happen to agree with EVERYTHING that PFF says. Do you? What evidence do you have that suggests he could play LT, or C at a high level? We wasted an entire season with Gradkowski at center and not once did they consider moving Yanda over to replace him. We've had a few issues at LT since Yanda has been here as well, but I don't recall him ever taking any snaps there either. 

 

Here's the scoop on Yanda. Currently the best guard in the league, AND best backup RT in the league. Yanda playing anywhere else would indicate to me that we have officially gone into desperation mode.

[riseNConquer81]

If your saying that Yanda has 5 years until we need to start paying attention to his age then K.O. should have at least ten years before we'd have to do the same.

nobody said we should get rid of K.O. because he's old though. still not following...

 

 

You know I didn't say that. Now your just being silly.

doesnt matter what you said, doesnt make sense either way. Nobody is writing an 8 year contract, and no contract that gets written now has any bearing on, nor does it guarantee the existence of, a second contract...so why are we talking about 2 contracts? 

 

Age may have been irrelevant in the case of Grubbs & Yanda because they were so close in age. However, in the case of Yanda & K.O. age plays a more significant role because they are more than 5 years apart. Nothing to be fixated on, but certainly a factor that warrants consideration.

Grubbs left and we got to keep the better of the two players, but this situation, I think, is a little bit different because of the quality of the player in K.O., AND yes, both players ages. The FO has clearly expressed it's interest in extending Yanda, but if they're unable to do so K.O. is not without his pros. I'd be happy with either one.

Yanda is the superior player, and as i said before...nobody is writing a contract longer than 5 years. Yanda isnt old enough to be concerned that a 5 year contract will outlast his playing ability, so age is still irrelevant.

 

 

Any one of the leagues elite left tackles... Take your pick.

in other words: you got nothing. I didnt say who's a better Left Tackle, i said better lineman.

 

He's the only guard in the top 100 players, but I already said that he's the best guard. I'll guarantee you that there'll be other lineman ranked higher, and that's by the players who play with and against them.

out of respect for the specific position they play.

There are very few, if any, better all around lineman than Yanda. you cant even name one.

 

Not that it makes very much difference but i'm pretty sure you tried to slip in an extra pro bowl on Yanda's resume

you're right, that MISTAKE-- doesnt make a difference...i dont need to "slip in" anything to make a case, never had.

 

, and when did he ever take any significant snaps at center?

when have any of your random Left Tackles?

Take away Center (just to be nice) Yanda's still killin at 4 out of 5 OL positions...who is your challenger?

Edited May 22, 2015 by riseNConquer81

[riseNConquer81]

I'd caution you on one thing... the reason Grubbs was allowed to walk is because he was the second player of the guards to sign a contract. There was very little difference between Grubbs contract and Yanda's, so whoever signed first increases the likelihood that the other guard signs elsewhere. In that respect, yes, its possible one of them leaves.

 

The problem is... its entirely possible that KO signs first. I wouldn't call it likely at this point, but its certainly possible. If KO signs first, there's zero guarantee Yanda is back at all, regardless of whether we think he's the better guard or even whether we want him back.

 

In theory, we could retain both, at that's the goal. But I highly doubt the Ravens are strictly focusing on Yanda because he's the better guard. I have no doubt the FO has and continues to engage KO in contract talks as well, and it wouldn't surprise me if he signed first.

i know that. And if things shake out that way, then that's whatever...nothing you can do about that.

But offering both guys some money and working with the one that ends up being more amenable is totally different from writing Yanda off altogether and choosing to make K.O. a priority...which is the prevailing fan suggestion.

Grubbs and Yanda, at the time, had similar resumes, but Yanda's a superior player to K.O. so they cant totally dismiss his right to seek better pay than Kelechi. They have to give him a little bit of space, so its not quite as simple as whoever signs a copy of the same contract first, this time around.

the bottom line is that IF we dont sign both, its going to be because one (presumably Yanda) is more expensive than we'd like. Most of the fans seem comfortable presuming that as a foregone conclusion and not even bothering to try which i think, as i originally said, is dumb.

[riseNConquer81]

Of course it was speculation, which is why I originally said "potentially."

ok well that ccould "potentially" happen regardless of whether he signs a contract now or not. Why are we talking about hypothetical contracts that we dont have any control over?

we cant do anything about 8 years down the road...we can do something about the next 3-5.

as for your data (im not gonna quote it for the sake cleanliness), a few things:

1) like i said before, Yanda's already proven he's not the average lineman. You cite a significant drop off after their 7th year. Yanda's in his ninth, and there's been no drop off, he's as good as ever. He's beating the league average, so this isnt much of a concern. yeah exceptions are exceptions, but what's the point in discussing the rule when you already know you have an exception?

2) even if he werent...according to the graph, he's still playing at a significantly high level regardless. The thing you should be taking from this graph (which i said already) is that even with degradation in performance over time, you can still milk a high level lineman for great line play well into their 16th or 17th season before you have to start worrying about their age making it not worth it anymore. that's 8 years away for Yanda...and we're only talking about the next 3-5.

Blue chip guy on a 4 consecutive pro-bowl streak beats the upside guy every time IF a choice must be made. There's always a guy with upside.