01-24-2017, 01:20 PM
(01-24-2017, 12:05 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: So I see a lot of people post on here about how we can fill a lot of our needs with extra draft picks.
While we may draft positions of need: C, RT, LB, etc. we typically haven't filled actual needs: which is starters.
Just because we draft a position that we need doesn't mean these guys will pan out. Conversely...we'll be lucky to have 2 guys from the upcoming draft be quality starters here.
Some guys get forced to start due to no other options (Bodine)...but that doesn't mean we filled a need.
I read about the perils of free agents...how you sign them and pay a lot and they may not pan out. Well, there is atleast game tape for them against NFL level talent. Our draft pick miss rate is arguably much higher than the free agent rate.
Food for thought.
We usually draft at least 7 players a year and bring in a handful of vets on low deals if we're lucky. Of course our success rate with FA's will be higher.
Just because we signed a FA doesn't mean they will pan out and it usually has a bigger toll on our cap than a draftee that didn't pan out. These are the notable FAs we brought into Cincy recently.
B.Lafell
K.Dansby
J.Harrison
N.Clements
L.Coles
A.Bryant
A.Odom
S.Adams
What we don't mention though is the development of our players we previously drafted. It's hard to tell who could improve because we don't watch them practice or their study habits but generally younger players improve from year to year and fill in some of the gaps.
