Pats are an oddity that they also use trades more than most teams. But they have no problem bringing in players from outside the organization. They traded for Bennett who was a big part of their team last year, especially when Gronk went down.
In 2015, they signed Jabaal Sheard who was one of their better edge players in 2015 and had 5 sacks and played well in 2016, their SB year.
These are precisely the moves the Cowboys should be making. Forget the high priced, over paid elite FAs. Find those mid-level guys like a Sheard that aren't cap stifling but solid enough that they fill a hole and improve your team while you can still focus on building a core through the draft.
That's all I am asking for and hope they do this coming offseason with a bit more cap space.
The Sheard FA contract is what Dallas does. It was a 2 year 11 mil deal. Once he earned a raise he was gone.
Bennett was drafted here, lol. We don't want him back. His attitude drove his price wayyyy down. Pats used him in a rent a season mode for a 4th round pick and let him walk.
Pats take lots of risks on guys and some work out and others do not. But they don't pay big money.
And yes next off-season is the every other off-season where Dallas goes out and does a net add in FA.
Simply put, Dallas is in line to receive two comp picks in 2018. Since the contracts of the players signed are not comparable to the contracts of those FAs lost then Dallas should receive compensation for their two highest FA losses at this point. Which would be Leary who got close to $9M per season and Church who got $6.5M per season. That should equate to
Dallas receiving a 4th and a 5th round comp pick in 2018 but those could change with each FA addition or loss we have from here on.
So consider that if Dallas signed any additional FA, then they'd have been giving up a 5th round comp pick as well.