This is all BS.
Analytics guys know you can’t pay outsized deals to one or two position groups and beggar others.
Under the cap ‘relative value’ comes into play.
Are 3 defensive linemen making big money with solid career numbers better than having 2 with a pro bowl caliber cover corner or left tackle, other positions of premium value?
The answer is no.
That’s why you see a Brentson Buckner trade from SF to Indy a few years ago.
His contract would have overloaded a defensive line with a number of good players that needed to get paid.
There was nothing wrong with Buckner, he’s been Indy’s best DL, you just can’t pay everyone.
Sweat falls into that category.
Perhaps a new GM would have paid Sweat a year ahead of time and traded Payne, figuring he could go into the draft and find a starting DT to pair with Allen.
This front office was scared to take a risk on its own ability to find that player and feared the fallout from trading Payne.
Let’s face it, Phidarian Mathis as a 24 year old #2 pick hasn’t set the world on fire.
In fact he looks even now to be a long shot to take on a major role here.