Can free-agent spending buy a title?

[waving monkey]

With NFL free agency beginning March 10, ESPN Stats & Information will examine some of the biggest stories surrounding the 2015 free-agent class.

What impact does “winning the offseason” have on win-loss records in the NFL?

Six of the 12 teams that have ranked in the top three in free-agent spending since 2011 did not improve their win total, including all three of last year’s top spending teams. The below information comes from spotrac.com.

2014 Offseason
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($147 million), Denver Broncos ($128M) and New York Giants ($111M) spent the most in terms of cash value during the offseason, but the trio averaged a two-win drop-off compared to 2013 (including playoffs). The Patriots, who won Super Bowl XLIX, ranked 16th in free-agent spending last offseason.

2013 Offseason
The Miami Dolphins ($160M), Indianapolis Colts ($129M) and Tennessee Titans ($133M) each added one win compared to their 2012 totals. The Colts were the only team to make it to the postseason. The Seattle Seahawks, winners of Super Bowl XLVIII, ranked 24th in total cash value spent that offseason.

link/http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/102703/can-free-agent-spending-buy-a-title

 

[LittleD]

With NFL free agency beginning March 10, ESPN Stats & Information will examine some of the biggest stories surrounding the 2015 free-agent class.

What impact does “winning the offseason” have on win-loss records in the NFL?

Six of the 12 teams that have ranked in the top three in free-agent spending since 2011 did not improve their win total, including all three of last year’s top spending teams. The below information comes from spotrac.com.

2014 Offseason
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($147 million), Denver Broncos ($128M) and New York Giants ($111M) spent the most in terms of cash value during the offseason, but the trio averaged a two-win drop-off compared to 2013 (including playoffs). The Patriots, who won Super Bowl XLIX, ranked 16th in free-agent spending last offseason.

2013 Offseason
The Miami Dolphins ($160M), Indianapolis Colts ($129M) and Tennessee Titans ($133M) each added one win compared to their 2012 totals. The Colts were the only team to make it to the postseason. The Seattle Seahawks, winners of Super Bowl XLVIII, ranked 24th in total cash value spent that offseason.

link/http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/102703/can-free-agent-spending-buy-a-title

If you're only 1 catalytic player away from the SB such as a Deion Sanders, it makes sense to go in all the way and try and get there.
I don't think it makes sense to spend millions on multiple high dollar players as that means your team just does not have the core to
improve that much. Buy a few bargain basement players that serve as bridges to draft core players and you have the New England model.

 

[jobberone]

Over the years I've seen one or two acquisitions put a team over the top but now you must build thru the draft.

 

[Bware_Dware]

Patriots. Look at their secondary. Then you have Lafell, Blount. I'd say it's 70-30 in the drafts favor.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

No.

 

[Fredd]

I don't personally think you can buy a title, but if someone was close enough and decided to go all in...I just imagine a healthy Cowboys team in 2015 (cough cough LEE cough cough), they resign their important guys like Dez, the LB's, decide what to do @ RB and then you mortgage the future a little with Tony's and Smith's contracts and you go out and get Suh AND JPP....stick both of those guys on the DL along with the rest of the crew, then you draft more defense....yikes, adding those two DL just bought us a legit title run while Tony is still viable....

...not going to happen before everyone jumps in with the "that is stupid, this ain't gonna happen"....I am just responding to the premise of whether a title can be bought....if you are close enough, and you have enough pieces in place already, then I say it is possible, although, not likely if you want to build a team that will stand the test of time

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Over the years I've seen one or two acquisitions put a team over the top but now you must build thru the draft.

absolutely.

 

[Nation]

Didn't we just see the All-In model with the Broncos last year? Signing Ware, Talib, Ward, and Sanders all at large numbers that will screw their potential cap? And didn't we see how that worked out?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Didn't we just see the All-In model with the Broncos last year? Signing Ware, Talib, Ward, and Sanders all at large numbers that will screw their potential cap? And didn't we see how that worked out?

Exactly.

It's amazing the number of folks who do not learn from history.

 

[jobberone]

Exactly.

It's amazing the number of folks who do not learn from history.

As in most.

 

[Aven8]

If that were the case Dan Snyder would have 2-3 rings by now.

I have actually liked how we have gone to the scrap pile looking for players who still want to "play".

That's the difference between guys that want to just get "paid", aka Ware.

 

[CF74]

I don't personally think you can buy a title, but if someone was close enough and decided to go all in...I just imagine a healthy Cowboys team in 2015 (cough cough LEE cough cough), they resign their important guys like Dez, the LB's, decide what to do @ RB and then you mortgage the future a little with Tony's and Smith's contracts and you go out and get Suh AND JPP....stick both of those guys on the DL along with the rest of the crew, then you draft more defense....yikes, adding those two DL just bought us a legit title run while Tony is still viable....

...not going to happen before everyone jumps in with the "that is stupid, this ain't gonna happen"....I am just responding to the premise of whether a title can be bought....if you are close enough, and you have enough pieces in place already, then I say it is possible, although, not likely if you want to build a team that will stand the test of time

I'd go with some slightly less known FA's that are still above middle of the road, in their mid 20's, and then still draft a DE and DT. Those two u listed would break the bank..

 

[CF74]

Didn't we just see the All-In model with the Broncos last year? Signing Ware, Talib, Ward, and Sanders all at large numbers that will screw their potential cap? And didn't we see how that worked out?

Manning wore down, Ware wore down, they went old.. We gotta keep the youth movement going...

 

[Craig]

I dont think what the Broncos did was wrong, but it didnt work because they have a qb with no backbone, but in general i would be against building through FA. When they got Manning it was pretty clear they wanted to create a window and were willing to accept a collapse when that closes.

 

[AbeBeta]

Patriots. Look at their secondary. Then you have Lafell, Blount. I'd say it's 70-30 in the drafts favor.

Sure. But it was one elite pickup and guys who weren't really wanted much elsewhere. The Pats do well because of outstanding coaching.

 

[CashMan]

If you're only 1 catalytic player away from the SB such as a Deion Sanders, it makes sense to go in all the way and try and get there.
I don't think it makes sense to spend millions on multiple high dollar players as that means your team just does not have the core to
improve that much. Buy a few bargain basement players that serve as bridges to draft core players and you have the New England model.

Disagree, you are comparing the early stages of of the salary cap to what it is today. And name the last team that did something like that.

 

[Fredd]

I'd go with some slightly less known FA's that are still above middle of the road, in their mid 20's, and then still draft a DE and DT. Those two u listed would break the bank..

they certainly would break the bank, especially with Dez about to get paid and possibly DM...I have mixed emotions on breaking the bank (the go all-in approach)...I think they are very close to competing in a SB, and getting a SERIOUS pass rush would make the rest of the defense THAT much better...I think we restructure Carr (I like the guy, just not his salary) and hope that Mo can play this year and then the secondary is good (not great)...we get Lee to play a full season and get the rest of the LBs signed reasonably (I think we lose Carter)...but, the D as it sits now, and then add Suh who plays more downs than most DT's along with Crawford and get a young and possibly hungry JPP on the outside to pair with Lawrence.....hmmmm....we would mortgage the future and that scares me a lot, but having that SB-type defense to go with a SB offense is very tantalizing....

 

[CF74]

they certainly would break the bank, especially with Dez about to get paid and possibly DM...I have mixed emotions on breaking the bank (the go all-in approach)...I think they are very close to competing in a SB, and getting a SERIOUS pass rush would make the rest of the defense THAT much better...I think we restructure Carr (I like the guy, just not his salary) and hope that Mo can play this year and then the secondary is good (not great)...we get Lee to play a full season and get the rest of the LBs signed reasonably (I think we lose Carter)...but, the D as it sits now, and then add Suh who plays more downs than most DT's along with Crawford and get a young and possibly hungry JPP on the outside to pair with Lawrence.....hmmmm....we would mortgage the future and that scares me a lot, but having that SB-type defense to go with a SB offense is very tantalizing....

Lol u just added another big name in Suh. Even if we franchise Dez we don't have the money...

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Didn't we just see the All-In model with the Broncos last year? Signing Ware, Talib, Ward, and Sanders all at large numbers that will screw their potential cap? And didn't we see how that worked out?

Yes because pointing to one example of a team that didn't win nit all proves something? Nevermind that their QB....probably the beset in history....was hurt down the stretch.

I hate when people point to individual outcomes/occurrences and use that as some kind of referendum on what to do or not to do. In a game with so many moving parts its a fools errand.

Nevermind using cash value is a silly.

 

[Hardline]

The Philadelphia Eagles dream team went all out and look how that turned out.