02-18-2016, 12:48 PM
(02-18-2016, 12:29 PM)fredtoast Wrote: This issue has been beaten to death. A lot of people act like there is less risk with free agents than draft picks, but in fact a lot of free agents fail to provide the upgrade that is expected.
I agree with the Bengals plan in general, but they seem to be just a little extreme about it. It has been years since they signed anything more than B-level free agent.
There is less risk.
But the team doing the signing has to be smart too.
You know what you are getting 9/10 times you sign a FA.
You have proven NFL tape.
Now the big issues usually come when you sign a guy who was a 4-3 DE and try to make him a 3-4 OLB or DE.
Teams have to be smart and recognize how and why that player is succeeding and try to replicate that.
Signing Demarco Murray wasn't a bad decision by the Eagles.
Using Demarco Murray like they used LeSean McCoy was a bad decision.
Sure you get the occasional pay check hunter who packs it in. But most times you end up with FA "busts" because coaches and FO didn't do enough due diligence on how exactly that player would fit the team or system.
