Math and $$ still don't explain what you lose in talent and wins on the field, which are purely subjective and speculative at this point. With your Math and 1 year plan, why keep Lang?
Well again, I'm still trying process exactly how I feel about Sitton's release. Neither for nor against it at this time. Releasing Sitton carries risk. Keeping Sitton carried risk. I was more pointing out that Cap's 4.5 vs. 6.9 cap numbers are little disingenuous. If, for example, Taylor falls flat and we cut him after one year, his dead cap number for 2017 is 300k, while we we pickup 2.4MM in cap space, for a net of 2.1MM.
Okay, why do we cut Sitton and keep Lang. My speculations/thoughts.
1) Cutting both guards in the same year is carries too great a risk for the FO.
2) As many have pointed out, we don't really have an ideal backup at guard with Taylor's promotion. Presumably Barclay short term, Lindsley/Barclay later, and if things get really pear shaped, something crazy like sliding Bulaga to guard and Murphy or Spriggs at RT. We
certainly don't have a second preferred starter at guard.
3a) Sitton is has potentially greater physical risk due to his back.
3b) Maybe because of his bad back, Sitton's run block has slipped bad. Some have written about this. I thought I saw a bit of this last year.
4) Lang's contract appears to have been structured differently. If we cut Lang, he'd count 1.1MM in dead cap. And he'd only save 5MM, for a net of 4MM. More snark, but 6.9MM > 4MM. If the motivation is to use the cap to extend Bhak and/or Tretter, the larger savings for cutting one guy helps more.