Draft illusion and reality

[bengals1969]

(02-12-2020, 01:29 PM)bengals67 Wrote: Thank you for this.

Packers signed ( or maybe traded for one) two top tier defensive free agents this year and made NFC championship. 

But I think you are generally right about Packers and Steelers.

 I think Steelers have not signed free agents because they are always pushing the envelope on their cap space.

The NFL is built on 12% turnover via draft every season.  So in about 4 years 50% of the team is new with young players.  Free agency should  only be used by teams that make mistakes in the draft.  But those mistakes won't be off the team till about 4 to 5 years after a player was drafted which corresponds with rookie contract length.  So that means the team could also draft their replacement instead of going with a FA. 
Teams that have to dip into the FA well every year and spend significant cash aren't doing it right.

Now trades are awhole other thing, and a team that drafts well should also be ready traders.