Drop Watson? (1QB salary/contract league)

[M-Dub]

Team 3 in sig. I have Watson on a 1-year/$28 contract. Salary cap is $450. Cap hit for cutting a player is 40% of his salary multiplied by the number of years remaining on his contract, so I could free up $16.80 in cap space (and a roster spot) by dropping him. It’s not a windfall by any stretch, but every dollar helps.

If I hold him through the end of his contract, he becomes an RFA, which means he’ll be placed in the 2022 FA auction to establish his new salary, but I have the right to match the winning bid. If I drop him and he clears waivers, he becomes a $1 salary player for this year and will be a UFA in the 2022 auction (so no matching rights for me or anyone else).

Obviously, I’d try to trade him for anything I could get before I drop him outright, but I don’t see him having much, if any, trade value in this setting. If anything, I’d probably have to give someone the 3.10 or some FAAB just to take his full salary off my hands.

I’m just wondering if the matching rights in 2022 are even worth eating his entire salary this year if he doesn’t play. I’m leaning towards no. I could also hold him for a while and see how things shake out, but opening up that cap space prior to our 2021 FA auction would be preferable.

Currently, my plan is to try to snag at least one, and possibly even two, of the top 5 rookie QBs in our rookie draft. I have picks 2.07, 3.01 and 3.10. There are also a few interesting QBs available in the auction. Stafford and Big Ben are RFAs. UFAs include Fitzmagic, Cousins, Carr and Winston/Hill.

[abloom]

Unless you desperately need the cash, he's a hold right now

[Gator Sens]

I'm starting to wonder if Watson plays at all this season based on the bridge he burned with the only team that appears to want him/that he already plays for and all the legal issues. I'm not versed at all in salary leagues and if you are going to drop him, seems like any return is better than nothing. I would explore every option in the market before dropping him. Seems like in SF, there has to be a deal out there somewhere, but that is a ton of salary to bring in on a risk. Seems like a team fully rebuilding might take him on and resign him next year once this all plays out on the gamble. I do think he is back in the NFL by the kickoff of the 2022 season at the latest.

As is, I would rather hold than drop him outside of the moral issue...

[murphysxm]

He has to be a hold for me until I know more, especially in a SF

[M-Dub]

In a regular dynasty format where you can keep a guy forever, I agree that he’s a hold, even in 1QB. In this league, I’m not sure it’s worth it though. If I drop him, I highly doubt anyone picks him up at his current salary, so I could potentially free up the cap space and still re-sign him next offseason if I’m so inclined. I’m not in a hurry to make a decision on this. I more just wanted to see what you guys thought about the strategy.

[DynastyDynasty]

I like your idea of sending something with him to get some value out of him. Obviously you don't want to overpay just to unload him. But, if the piece added to him to unload him isn't too much in your mind, then you can be completely free of his contract and have the roster spot, and maybe even get a little something something back.
Let's say for example you offer Watson & 3.10 to someone for a late 2nd. If they counter for their 3rd, boom. You move up a little and you unload the contract.
That may not work. But, it would be better than dropping him outright and eating cap. If it came down to dropping him, I'd do that over holding him to be a RFA in 2022. Not worth it to me when I'm pretty sure he's not playing football in 2021.

[Mtt33]

I feel like you have to be able to trade him+ to someone and take on less of a hit then 40%. Matching rights are nice but likely isnt that big of a deal considering you are just matching market value anyways, wouldn’t factor that in much. I’d start by offering him around and see if anyone wants him basically for free.

[Jigga94]

I think you could get a rebuilder to at least deal you a 3rd and take salary... If not, and you need the money, I could see dropping but would also offer him for free before I drop.

[HughHoney]

I’m in a somewhat similar situation. My league is SF with a $400 cap. I have Watson with 1 year left at $26 with a 20% cap hit to drop. Could also RFA next year but won’t because I’ll have better options. For now Watson is a hold until I see how things play out for a while. Will reassess before the UFA auction and decide if I could better use the funds. One key difference is if I drop during the season he goes into the FA pool and can be picked up for a new blind bid. That owner then has the option to assign a contract at the end of the year (i.e. someone could get a cheap long-term deal if things play out right). If I drop before the UFA he’ll just go into that pool to bid on then. I plan to just ride things out until it looks apparent that he’ll miss most or all of this season.

[Cowboysfan33]

In your situation, I would drop him. I agree that he’ll play again, probably by 2022, but think he will probably miss this season. I just wouldn’t want that big cap charge to deal with for someone that has this situation hanging over his head.

[greenbird]

Drop him