Good topic Kirby!
This may be a little off-topic, but when discussing the cap, we also need to talk replacement cost. Lots of "we can't afford to pay Sammy $13M" talk going around, but Matthews is looking at $10M next year to preemptively replace Watkins. We DO need to have a #1 receiver now that there's a hole.
That's why I find, "we could sign two or 3 good players for that," arguments so frustrating. Sure, you could. You could sign a serviceable LB, 3rd CB, or vet OL for that money. But then how do you pay your #1 WR that you are going to need? The guys that hit FA are gonna be asking for $15M. Our odds of drafting a top 15 WR talent are not good.
You don't win in the NFL losing a star over a few cap dollars and paying a few serviceable players instead. 53 Jordan Matthews caliber athletes isn't a Super Bowl team.
Case in point, Gilmore. Who did we sign when Gilmore walked that we really need? We could've afforded Hyde still. Vlad Ducasse? Andre Holmes? Dimarco? Is there any doubt, on today of all days, that letting Gilmore walk for a FB and a couple backups, along with trading Sammy for picks and "adequate" players show a flawed team-building strategy?
With the money we save from not keeping Sammy, we will end up signing Jordan Matthews and a backup OG/C who sees some ST snaps. That is NOT a recipe for success.