Why the hell do I keep seeing trade Ingram?? WTF is wrong with you people, you don't trade away your good players for draft picks, gtfo

There is actually a both sides argument at this point. Ingram is in the last year of his contract. Despite what some say here, he's a premier 3-down back in the NFL. He's also going to be 29 years old in December. The combination of the two means that this next contract will likely be his last big contract.

With running backs getting money like Gurley, Freeman, and Bell, Ingram's asking price is likely to be north of $10 million per year, It's a huge jump from the current $4 million he's getting now.

So this sets up the dilemma: the likelyhood of the Saints paying Ingram that type of money, or franchising him and being on the hook for close to $15 million is virtually zero. However, going past the trade deadline means that the Saints may get a relatively small compensation for Ingram leaving, though the Saints gets the benefit of a truly motivated Ingram in a contract year until the season is over. So option 3 is looking for a trade partner and trying to maximize the value in return for Ingram because it's clear that there's no way to work him into the long term plans.

My gut says that option #2 is going to be the choice. The Saints will ride Ingram until the wheels fall off, then part ways and allow Ingram to find his golden parachute in free agency.

I can already tell that some will consider that selling out on the team. But the NFL is a business. And it's a business that chews up running backs. So if Ingram can find a team that'll pay him market value, my opinion is more power to him. I'll wish him well.

SFIAH

There is actually a both sides argument at this point. Ingram is in the last year of his contract. Despite what some say here, he's a premier 3-down back in the NFL. He's also going to be 29 years old in December. The combination of the two means that this next contract will likely be his last big contract.

With running backs getting money like Gurley, Freeman, and Bell, Ingram's asking price is likely to be north of $10 million per year, It's a huge jump from the current $4 million he's getting now.

So this sets up the dilemma: the likelyhood of the Saints paying Ingram that type of money, or franchising him and being on the hook for close to $15 million is virtually zero. However, going past the trade deadline means that the Saints may get a relatively small compensation for Ingram leaving, though the Saints gets the benefit of a truly motivated Ingram in a contract year until the season is over. So option 3 is looking for a trade partner and trying to maximize the value in return for Ingram because it's clear that there's no way to work him into the long term plans.

My gut says that option #2 is going to be the choice. The Saints will ride Ingram until the wheels fall off, then part ways and allow Ingram to find his golden parachute in free agency.

I can already tell that some will consider that selling out on the team. But the NFL is a business. And it's a business that chews up running backs. So if Ingram can find a team that'll pay him market value, my opinion is more power to him. I'll wish him well.

SFIAH