I mean if we're talking cap hits, I think you can find an OT for $8M cap hit that would do at least as well. You could argue Mekari is probably 80% of what Stanley is, and he doesn't cost $8M in cap space. The cap hit is just a one year number, so even if I were to sign somebody for $12-14M AAV in FA, I could easily structure at a year 1 cap hit of $8M.
For him, it'll likely come down to cash instead of cap. Is the owner going to pay him $15M to play like this (and potentially not even be a starter)? Or does the FO think another offseason of rest/recovery and training will make him better? I don't know the answer to that either.
I think the FT for JM is troublesome, but it can be done. If they're as concerned about that as they were with Lamar, then using void years solves all their problems.