In the era of the hard salary cap and rapidly rising quarterback, receiver, and pass rusher contracts that seemingly offset yearly cap jumps, it has become increasingly difficult for NFL teams to keep multiple stars from the same position group together over the long haul.

Specifically, there have been numerous examples over the years where teams have had to move on from a talented defensive tackle after choosing to give another defensive lineman a lucrative multi-year contract. Back in 2009, the Patriots traded future Hall of Famer Richard Seymour to the Raiders, opting to extend the younger Vince Wilfork long-term. A little over a decade later, the 49ers dealt DeForest Buckner to the Colts, instead keeping Arik Armstead on a five-year extension in the same position group.

Most recently, the Seahawks benefited from the Giants’ financial log-jam in the trenches, acquiring veteran Leonard Williams at the trade deadline in October 2023 for a second and fourth-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. The move opened up much-needed salary cap relief for an underachieving New York squad, which also had All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence on the books on a new $90 million extension signed the previous March.

Just six months and change after orchestrating that trade, with Williams receiving his own new contract in Seattle after flourishing in 10 games with the Seahawks, general manager John Schneider doubled down on the interior defensive line come draft weekend. Even with “Big Cat” locked up for the next three years, the team invested the No. 16 overall pick in the first round on Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, hoping to quickly build one of the league’s most formidable defensive fronts.

At the time, though that move received plenty of praise from the draft community, there were some pundits who questioned not going a different direction to address a more urgent need such as the interior offensive line.