Considering we need any and all help we can get at the position, I'd still cut him, too.  He is absolutely garbage. I'd rather run a 3-4 if it mean we didn't have to deal with him being on the field (then we could get more LB's in the picture, too!).

But, we do need him, he's cheap and he knows the system.

Who else was playing DT? Johnson?

I do hope we end up trading for Corey Williams, I think he'd be worth it.

Actually the JD move was a good one bc we gave him only 8 mil more in guaranteed money that can now be spread out over 5 yrs instead of the 11+ mil he would have counted this year and would have had to be paid in one year.  Gross' contract was good too this will not be evident until next year when a few OTs will be due new contracts and Gross' will look like nothing (as long as the new agreement goes through that is).  And you forgot that they also resigned then restructured Gamble's contract which many said he could have gotten more with a new team but he chose to stay here.  They also restructured Johnson, Kemo, Brayton, and a few others' contracts to save money.  Kemo being the only one that could bite us now.

You started this topic by saying we would be better off dumping Hayden.  Well it looks like Reed has a better plan in his new article that may help out more:

"If the Panthers were to cut Salley ($1.01 million) and keep Munnerlyn ($310,000) they could save $700,000 in salary cap space — money which could be used toward signing another defensive tackle." ---Steve Reed

We could get a decent DT who is willing to sign even one year for that (I say that bc usually one year contracts are more expensive per year than a longer term deal).  Salley has been great for us on STs but if Captain can step in and produce similarily he is cheaper and has more upside.