He will end up on a shitty team making a shitload of money and be completely irrelaevant. He was barely relevant playing for Detroit. Yeah go to Jacksonville, get double and triple teamed and go 4-12 for the next 4 seasons.
The Raiders historically are dumb enough to pull this off. Suh and Jamarcus Russell as DT's should be formiddable.
The Raiders historically are dumb enough to pull this off. Suh and Jamarcus Russell as DT's should be formiddable.
The Detroit Lions want to re-sign Ndamukong Suh to a long-term deal, but if they can't before the three-day free agent negotiating period opens next week, here are his most likely potential destinations in free agency:
Detroit Lions
Cap space: About $18 million
Why it makes sense: Suh has been a fixture on the Lions' defense the last five years, and he's trending toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He likes his coaches, he fits the scheme, and the Lions can't afford to let him go. If Suh gives them the option, they could match any offer in free agency.
Why it doesn't: If the Lions were willing to make Suh the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL last year, they wouldn't be in this situation now. Questions persist around the league of whether Suh really wants to be in Detroit. Regardless, he doesn't owe it to anyone to let them match another team's offer.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Who would replace Ndamukong Suh? 3 possible free agents
Oakland Raiders
Cap space: About $54 million
Why it makes sense: The Raiders have a boatload of money to throw at Suh. He'd immediately become the face of the franchise. He'd be on the West Coast, close to his native Portland, Ore. And if the Raiders move to L.A., it'd do wonders for Suh's marketing and business interests.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Justin Tuck: Lions' Ndamukong Suh 'seems to be an Oakland Raider'
Why it doesn't: They're the Raiders, the worst franchise in the NFL the last decade. And while Suh wants to amass a fortune playing football, his legacy is important, too. How likely is he to win a championship if he goes to Oakland?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cap space: About $65 million
Why it makes sense: No team has more money to spend than Jacksonville, the Jaguars are looking for an anchor to build their defense around, and Suh would be a scheme fit. Florida doesn't have state income tax, which would save a few bucks over the life of a $100-million deal, and Shad Khan is the most global-thinking owner in the league.
Why it doesn't: See Oakland. The Jaguars have won five or fewer games four straight years. Another bad season could spell a regime change in Jacksonville, and no one wants to be a part of that.
Indianapolis Colts
Cap space: About $44 million
Why it makes sense: The Colts are the best team on this list. They played in the AFC title game last month, they have the best young quarterback in the NFL, and they have enough cap flexibility to structure a deal however Suh wants and still address other needs in free agency.
Why it doesn't: At some point, Indianapolis will have to make Andrew Luck the highest-paid player in the game, maybe even later this off-season, so it might not be prudent to spend huge on a defensive tackle. As good as the Colts are, Indianapolis still isn't a destination in free agency.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Insider: Colts free agent wish list should start with Ndamukong Suh
New York Jets
Cap space: About $50 million
Why it makes sense: The Jets have plenty of cap room and a need to use it because they're way below the 89% spending threshold. Plus, it's New York, and an ESPN report from October pegged the Big Apple as one of Suh's preferred destinations.
Why it doesn't: For just about every other reason. The Jets long have been one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the NFL, they run a 3-4 defense, and they have a couple of pretty good defensive linemen of their own in Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson.
Detroit Lions
Cap space: About $18 million
Why it makes sense: Suh has been a fixture on the Lions' defense the last five years, and he's trending toward the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He likes his coaches, he fits the scheme, and the Lions can't afford to let him go. If Suh gives them the option, they could match any offer in free agency.
Why it doesn't: If the Lions were willing to make Suh the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL last year, they wouldn't be in this situation now. Questions persist around the league of whether Suh really wants to be in Detroit. Regardless, he doesn't owe it to anyone to let them match another team's offer.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Who would replace Ndamukong Suh? 3 possible free agents
Oakland Raiders
Cap space: About $54 million
Why it makes sense: The Raiders have a boatload of money to throw at Suh. He'd immediately become the face of the franchise. He'd be on the West Coast, close to his native Portland, Ore. And if the Raiders move to L.A., it'd do wonders for Suh's marketing and business interests.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Justin Tuck: Lions' Ndamukong Suh 'seems to be an Oakland Raider'
Why it doesn't: They're the Raiders, the worst franchise in the NFL the last decade. And while Suh wants to amass a fortune playing football, his legacy is important, too. How likely is he to win a championship if he goes to Oakland?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cap space: About $65 million
Why it makes sense: No team has more money to spend than Jacksonville, the Jaguars are looking for an anchor to build their defense around, and Suh would be a scheme fit. Florida doesn't have state income tax, which would save a few bucks over the life of a $100-million deal, and Shad Khan is the most global-thinking owner in the league.
Why it doesn't: See Oakland. The Jaguars have won five or fewer games four straight years. Another bad season could spell a regime change in Jacksonville, and no one wants to be a part of that.
Indianapolis Colts
Cap space: About $44 million
Why it makes sense: The Colts are the best team on this list. They played in the AFC title game last month, they have the best young quarterback in the NFL, and they have enough cap flexibility to structure a deal however Suh wants and still address other needs in free agency.
Why it doesn't: At some point, Indianapolis will have to make Andrew Luck the highest-paid player in the game, maybe even later this off-season, so it might not be prudent to spend huge on a defensive tackle. As good as the Colts are, Indianapolis still isn't a destination in free agency.
DETROIT FREE PRESS
Insider: Colts free agent wish list should start with Ndamukong Suh
New York Jets
Cap space: About $50 million
Why it makes sense: The Jets have plenty of cap room and a need to use it because they're way below the 89% spending threshold. Plus, it's New York, and an ESPN report from October pegged the Big Apple as one of Suh's preferred destinations.
Why it doesn't: For just about every other reason. The Jets long have been one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the NFL, they run a 3-4 defense, and they have a couple of pretty good defensive linemen of their own in Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson.
